The moor and the loch : containing practical hints on most of the highland sports, and notices of the habits of the different creatures of game and prey in the mountainous districts of Scotland, with an essay on loch-fishing

THE SPORTING GALLERY
AND BOOKSHOP, INC.

38 «f*

sai

i

I

THE

MOOR AND THE LOCH:

v CONTAINING

PRACTICAL HINTS ON MOST OF THE HIGHLAND SPORTS,

AND NOTICES OF THE HABITS OF THE DIFFERENT CREATURES

OF GAME AND PREY IN THE MOUNTAINOUS

DISTRICTS OF SCOTLAND j

WITH

AN ESSAY ON LOCH-FISHING.

JOHN COLQUHOUN.

•Ilk flow'r that blooms on foreign fell
Wad mind me o' the heather-bell;
Ilk little streamlet's jeuk and turn
"Wad mind me o' Glenourock burn ;
Lands may be fair ayont the sea,
But Hieland hills Ind lochs for me I "

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, EDINBURGH;

AND T. CADELL, LONDON.

M.DCCC.XL.

EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND HUGHES,
PAUL'S WORK, CANONGATE.

TO

SIR JAMES COLQUHOUN OF LUSS, BART. M.P., &c. &c.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF
THE MANY RAMBLES WE HAVE TAKEN TOGETHER,

IN BOYHOOD AND YOUTH,
WITH OUR FISHING-RODS AND GUNS,
THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED,
BY HIS BROTHER,

JOHN COLQUHOUN.

M842037

CONTENTS.

PAGE

GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING 1

DOGS FOR THE MOORS 12

WILD-FOWL SHOOTING ON THE HIGHLAND LOCHS, 18

THE ROE:

HABITS, MANNER OF SHOOTING, &C 34

THE MOUNTAIN-FOX, 42

THE WILD-CAT, 49

THE MARTIN 53

LOCH-FISHING 56

FLIES 59

THE MINNOW TACKLE G2

TROLLING FROM A BOAT, 63

SALMON FISHING IN LOCHS, ... . 64

PIKE FISHING WITH A RUNNING BAIT ON SWIVELS, 66

THE GORGE-TROLL, ȣ.

SET-LINKS FOR PIKE, 63

LONG-LINES FOR PIKE, 70

EELS, i/>.

SEA-LOCH FISHING, 72

TROLLING FOR SEA-TROUT 74

THE LONG-LINE, 76

THE HAND-LINE, 78

THE WHITE FEATHER, , 80

11 CONTENTS.

PAGE

ON EAGLES 82

THE KITE 90

THE ALPINE HARE, 94

PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING, 97

THE SPIRIT OF GLENCROE, 105

APPENDIX.

TRAPPING THE ONLY EFFECTUAL WAY TO DESTROY VERMIN, 113

FOUR-FOOTED VERMIN 114

WINGED VERMIN, 117

TRAPS 119

VERMIN TERRIER, 120

INSTINCT OF DOGS, 122

PEEFACE.

I OFFER no apology for the publication of this
volume, as I have never seen any other which
attempts to give minute directions in the sports,
or information regarding the animals, of my
native hills ;* and since they are becoming
increasingly the objects of pursuit, especially
to English sportsmen, some such book seemed
really needed.

With regard to the subject itself, many will
blame as trifling any work which treats merely
of amusement ; and I am aware that this censure
is not altogether unfounded. It is not, however,
to divert men from higher occupations, that I ask
them, now and then, to ramble over the wild hill

* I do not know of any exception to this remark but Mr Scrope's
book on Deer- Stalking, which has made it unnecessary for me to touch
on that subject.

11 PREFACE.

or by the side of the moorland loch. Would not
the dyspeptic student feel both his mental and
bodily powers increased by such a substitute for
his customary monotonous stroll ? And need I
tell the indolent voluptuary or midnight opium-
eater what benefit he might find, would he thus
change his stimulus, and ensure to himself the
quiet slumbers which follow temperance and
health ? I well know, indeed, the engrossing
nature even of these harmless recreations, and
am far from intending my book to lead any one
to spend as much time in them as I have too
often done. But I rather hope it may have a
contrary tendency, by communicating , to the
novice in Highland sports such knowledge as
he could not acquire for himself without long
practice and patient investigation.

The sports of the field, when taken as recrea-
tions, and not as pursuits, may surely be ranked
among the most innocent ; nor can I see that
hours passed in such scenes as those I have
attempted to describe, need be lost to an obser-
vant and well-directed mind.

THE MOOR AND THE LOCH.

GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING.

GROUSE shooting, when the season begins, and our moors
are thronged by ardent sportsmen from all parts of the
kingdom, although requiring some tact and skill, is mere
child's play compared to what it becomes when the birds
are wild and wary.

In the month of August or September, a few general
rules may enable a good shot, upon a tolerable moor, to
load his game-carrier. He should commence upon the
farthest end of his range, giving his dogs the wind, and
select some part of the moor, near the centre, to which
he must endeavour to drive all his packs. His follower
should be a good marker,* active and intelligent in com-

* In marking grouse, when you can no longer distinguish them from
the brown heather, still let your eye follow their course, as the flap-
ping of their wings when they light is much longer discernible than the
rapid motion of their flight.

2 GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING.

prehending his least signal, and always ready, when the
dogs point, to place himself so as to prevent the birds
taking a wrong direction. After having skirmished in
this way until about two or three o'clock, he may send
for a fresh couple of his oldest and most experienced
dogs, and, with the greatest care, begin to beat this
reserved ground. If the day is favourable, and he has
not strangely mismanaged, he ought to make bloody
work. Should his range be along the steep side of a
mountain, the birds are much less likely to leave the
ground; when raised, they will probably (unless he is
beating up and down the hill, which is neither an easy
nor good way) fly straight along the mountain side,
and the young grouse-shooter might suppose would drop
down upon a line with the place they rose from ; but no
such thing, — the pack, after getting out of sight, before
lighting will take a turn, and fly a considerable way
either to the right or left. The sportsman must judge
by the wind, and other circumstances, which direction
they have taken ; but if he does not find them in the one,
he must try the other. Should he have the whole of a
detached hill, even if a small range, the birds are so un-
willing to leave it at the beginning of the season, that they
will often fly round and round until he has completely
broken them : no finer opportunity than this for filling
the bag.

On some of our moors grouse are as plentiful as part-
ridge in the preserved turnip-fields of Norfolk : no man

GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING. 6

would then break his beat to follow a pack ; but let him
select the lowest and most likely ground, as near the
centre of his range as possible, for his evening shooting.
Grouse, and indeed all game, when raised, generally
fly to lower ground, and when they begin to move about
on the feed, are more easily found by the dogs ; for
which reason the evening is always the most successful
part of the day.

As the season advances, and the birds become strong
on the wing, the difficulty of breaking the packs is ten-
fold increased. Some fire very large shot among them
when they rise : this may often succeed, but is a most
unsportsman-like proceeding. The plan I always adopt
is, first to select my ground for the evening, taking care
that it is full of hillocks ; grouse have a great liking to
them, and when thus concealed their flights are much
shorter. I then commence ranging my other ground as
described ; and when I get a shot, although the pack
should rise at some distance, I select one of the leaders,
and, if it drop, the pack is far more likely to break, and
the nearer birds are left for the second barrel.

Always cross the dog a good way ahead when he
points, and cock both barrels ; it is impossible to bring
down your birds in crack style otherwise. Unless shoot-
ing in company, I generally have my gun cocked, and
held ready to fire when walking over ground where there
is any likelihood of birds rising — this I only recommend
to the experienced sportsman.

GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING.

Never increase the size of your shot when the birds
are wild, unless with a larger gun. Those who object to
this additional weight, or who give their gun to be car-
ried by a servant, will make but poor work at this sea-
son, as many of the best chances rise without a point at
all. Stick to the last to scattered birds : one broken pack
at this time is worth a dozen others.

About an hour before dusk, be upon the hillocks
with your most experienced pointers : if they have been
accustomed to grouse-shooting at the end of the season,
they will hunt round them with the greatest caution;
and when they wind birds, if ever so slightly, will point
and look for your approach. Suppose your dog, statue-
like, on one of the hillocks, — watch the direction of his
nose, walk rapidly and noiselessly round in the opposite
direction, as it were to meet his point, and you will
most probably come upon the birds within fair distance.
Should the hillock be steep, and only about a gunshot
in height, walk straight over the top, and if the grouse
be, as is most probable, on the side or at the bottom, you
are certain of a tolerable shot : should you have broken
any packs in the morning, and driven them here, you are
very likely to get some excellent chances.

As the shades of evening close upon you, the birds
will lie much better : many a capital shot have I got
when I could scarcely see them. A very indistinct view
of his object is quite enough for a good snap shot who
is accustomed to his gun, and I would not guarantee the

GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING. O

success of any other at this time of the year. In fact,
you must be prepared for every shot being a snap at the
beginning of the day, and many at the end. By always
following the above directions, I scarcely ever, to the end
of the season, came home with less than two or three
brace after a few hours' shooting, upon a moor where I
used, in August, to average from fifteen to twenty in a
whole day.

No man ought to beat the same range oftener than
twice a-week, as grouse, after being dispersed, do not
collect in the evening like partridge, but are often some
time before they gather ; the best days are those with a
warm sun and light breeze. When the weather is windy
and rainy, after October, they flock ; and it is of no use
to disturb them till it is fine again, when they disperse.
You may expect good sport the first black frost. A sort
of lethargy seems to come over the birds : I have seen
several in a day standing up, without an attempt at
concealment, within forty yards — a rare opportunity for
poachers and bad shots.

Many suppose that grouse change their ground with
the changes of weather, and even lay down rules what
parts of the mountain they frequent according to its
variations. I have watched them narrowly for many
years, and am firmly of opinion that they only shift to
the longest heather on the lea side of any knolls near
their usual haunts, when they want shelter from the sun,
wind, or rain ; except indeed in winter, when many of

0 GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING.

them come down to lower ground than they ever fre-
quent at other times. I have likewise heard it asserted
that grouse descend the hills to feed : this I also believe
to be erroneous; and have no doubt that, at feeding
times, they only move to the first short, sweet patch of
young heather, the tender tops of which form their chief
food during a great part of the year. The young packs
eat the seeds of the various grasses and weeds that grow
in the moors, and are particularly fond of sorrel. At
the hatching time the hen devours quantities of earth-
worms with great avidity.

BLACK-GAME.

Black-game do not pair like grouse ; and shooting the
hen * and young birds at the beginning of the season, is a
simple business. You have only to make yourself master
of the places they frequent. They may always be found
near a short thick rush, which can be easily seen on the
moor, the brown seeds of which form the principal food
of the young packs. When your dogs point near these
rushes, and especially if they " road," you may be almost
sure of black-game. The old hen generally rises first,

* Many gentlemen are now beginning to shoot the hens, observing
the great increase of black-game and decrease of grouse in some dis -
tricts. This may in part be attributed to the advance of cultivation ;
but I cannot help thinking the black-game have a good share in driving
off the grouse — as I know of one instance where the latter were killed
off, and the former again returned to their old haunts. I believe it
is also more than suspected that the capercailzie, wherever they are
introduced, have a great inclination to dispossess both.

GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING. 7

the young pack lying like stones; no birds are more
easily shot.

The old cocks, even in August, are never very tame :
they are sometimes found singly; at others, in small
flocks, from six to ten. Their food on the moor consists
of cranberries; another berry, found in mossy places,
called in Scotland the " crawberry," and the seed of the
rush before named. They . being very strong on the
wing, have not the same reason as the young packs
for keeping near their food, and are often found far from
it, especially in the heat of the day ; shelter from the
sun being their chief object. There can then be no
better place to beat for them than among thick crops of
bracken. Should you find them in such good cover,
they will often give you a capital double shot.

As the season advances, black-game are the wildest
of all birds. Fair open shooting at them is quite out of
the question. As they never eat heather,* their food on
the moors soon becomes scarce ; they then much more
frequent the stubble-fields and copses by the hill-sides.
You may often see twenty or thirty feeding together on
the sheaves, when the corn is first cut ; but exceedingly
alert for the approach of an enemy. I have seen them
doing the farmer as much injury as so many barn-door

* Black-game when domesticated do eat heather, likewise grouse the
tops of birch, alder, &c. : this, in both cases, I believe to be an acquired
taste, as I have often opened their crops at different times during
the shooting season, and never once detected heather in those of black-
game, nor any thing except heather or corn in those of grouse.

GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING.

fowls. Your best plan then is to hide yourself among
the sheaves, and wait for their feeding-hours. If you are
well-concealed, and select the proper part of the field,
you may have an opportunity of killing a brace sitting,
with your first barrel, and another bird with your second.
As the fields become bare, and the days shorten, they
begin to feed three times; namely, at daybreak, at
noon, and an hour before dusk. To get a shot then is
much more difficult. I have made a hole in the stone
walls which enclose most of the Highland fields, in
order to shoot through it. I have also placed a bush on
the top to screen myself when rising to fire ; but they
have such quick sight and acute hearing, both well exer-
cised when feeding on this dangerous ground, that I
have found it a better plan not to attempt the sitting
shot. My way is to crawl as near the place where they
are feeding as possible, and make my attendant and one
of the farm-servants enter at each end of the field oppo-
site, and come leisurely down towards the birds ; they
are then almost sure to fly over your head, and give you
an excellent double shot. Care must be taken, however,
to ascertain that no sentinel is perched upon the wall,
or any high ground near, as there often is at the begin-
ning of the feed. Should there be, wait patiently till
he joins the flock. I have also, by this method, often
got a capital chance at grouse feeding on the stubble,
which they sometimes do in the lowlands, when return-
ing from my shooting-ground in Selkirkshire.

GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING. 9

In a country where there are few corn-fields, you may
get the best sport at old blackcocks by judiciously beat-
ing the plantations on the sides of the hills, especially if
there are birch and alder in them, the tender tops of
which form a great part of their winter food. They are
still more likely to frequent these belts if juniper-bushes
are near ; but great caution is necessary in beating
them. After quietly taking your station at the upper
side, send your man with an old and very steady pointer
to the under; keep about thirty yards in advance of
them : the man must remain outside the plantation,
striking the trees with a stick, and making all the noise
he can ; the pointer must not, if possible, range out of
his sight. You are thus pretty sure of the shot ; but if
your man beats through the belt, the birds are very
likely either to fly straight forward, or out at the under
side. Two brace of old cocks may be considered a good
day's sport. If the plantations are very large, beat by
sections in the same way.

Even in wroodcock shooting in large covers, more
harm than good is often done by a noisy set of beaters.
I never take more than one attendant, my retriever, and
an old pointer. When I get a point, I choose the most
open place, and send my man to strike the bush on the
opposite side ; employing my retriever to beat any very
thick cover near. This, however, he is not allowed to
do unless desired. Any man who adopts this plan, will
eventually be more successful than with beaters : more

10 GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING.

birds may of course be put up when a number of people
are scouring the woods ; but the shots will neither be so
many nor so fair.

Black-game and grouse are easily tamed ; ptarmigan,
I believe, never. The keeper of the pheasantry at
Rossdhu had a black-cock, a grouse, a partridge, and a
pheasant confined together. They agreed pretty well,
and the grouse, being a hen, hatched two successive
seasons. The first year the whole of this cross-breed
died ; but the next, with great care, a couple were rear-
ed. They were both cocks, and, when come to their
full plumage in winter, were a blackish brown, some-
thing between the colour of a grouse and a black-cock.
They were presented by my late father to the Glasgow
Museums, where they may now be seen. I have given
in the frontispiece an accurate likeness of that in the
College Museum.

Before ending this subject, I may put gentlemen on
their guard against two ways of poaching grouse and
black-game, I believe not generally known. The first
is, hunting the young packs before the moors open,
with a very active terrier or " colly." If the dog under-
stands the business, he will chop a great many in a day.
On a moor in Roxburghshire, I saw a sheep-dog, accom-
panied by a young farmer, performing to admiration. I
had the curiosity to watch their proceedings until I saw
the dog snap a young grouse, quick as thought. The
other plan is, to set a rat-trap in the green springs

GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING. 1 1

where the birds come to drink and to eat small insects :
this may be continued all the season. We often hear
that these traps are set for carrion-crows. They may be,
but any one who understands the habits of grouse and
black-game, knows what birds they are most likely to
catch ; and if this way of destroying vermin is perse-
vered in by the keepers, " the laird " will soon begin to
shoot his grouse minus a leg.

12 DOGS FOR THE MOORS.

DOGS FOR THE MOORS.

MY advice on the subject of dogs must begin with the
caution, never to lay too much stress on their general
appearance. For my own part, I must confess that I am
not very partial to the exceedingly fine-coated, silken-
eared, tobacco-pipe-tailed canine aristocracy; for, even
if their noses and style of hunting be good, they are
invariably much affected by cold and wet weather, and
can seldom undergo the fatigue requisite for the moors.
The most necessary qualifications of a dog are travel,
lastiness, and nose. The two first are easily ascertained ;
but the other may not be found out for some time. I
have seen dogs shot over for a season without commit-
ting many mistakes, and on that account thought excel-
lent by their masters : their steadiness of course has
been shown, but they have given no proof of first-rate
nose. Even a good judge may be unable to form an
accurate estimate of a dog's olfactory powers, until he
has for several days hunted him against another of
acknowledged superiority. The difference may then be
shown, not by the former putting up game, but by the
latter getting more points. Should there be no tip-top
dog at hand to compete with, the only other criterion,

DOGS FOR THE MOORS. 13

though not at all an infallible one, is the manner of
finding game. The sportsman must watch most nar-
rowly the moment when the dog first winds : if he
throws up his head, and moves boldly and confidently
forward, before settling on his point, it is a very good
sign ; if, on the contrary, he keeps pottering about, try-
ing first one side, then another, with his nose sometimes
close upon the ground, even though at last he comes to
a handsome point, I should think it most probable that
he is a badly-bred, inferior animal.

The purchaser, before taking the trouble to try a dog,
should make sure that he has a hard round foot, is well
set upon his legs, symmetrically though rather strongly
made ; but the great thing is the head. It ought to be
broad between the ears, which should hang closely down;
a fall in below the eyes ; the nose rather long, and not
broad ; nostrils very soft and damp. If these points are
attended to, the dog will seldom have a very inferior
nose. The above remarks relate .principally to pointers,
as I greatly prefer them to setters ; but if the sportsman
has a scanty kennel, I should rather recommend the
latter, as they are often capable of undergoing more
fatigue, and not so apt to be foot-sore. For my own
part, however, I find the pointer so much more docile
and pleasant to shoot with, that I never use setters; con-
cerning the choice of which, as there are so many varie-
ties, totally differing in appearance from each other, it
would be useless to lay down any rules.

14 DOGS FOR THE MOORS,

Many gentlemen, when the shooting season begins,
are shamefully taken in by dog-breakers and others.
Few are aware how difficult it is to know a good dog
before he is shot over. The breaker shows his kennel,
puffing it off most unmercifully. The sportsman chooses
one or two dogs that suit his fancy ; they drop at the
sound of the pistol, and perhaps get a point or two,
when birds are so tame that no dog but a cur could
possibly put them up. The bargain is struck, the dog
paid for ; but, when fairly tried, shows his deficiency in
finding game. I have seen the breaker look round with
an air of the greatest triumph if a hare should start, and
his dog not chase : this is what any man who under-
stands the elements of breaking, by a little trouble,
and taking the dog into a preserve of hares, can soon
effect.

Other obvious defects, such as not quartering the
ground, hunting down wind, not obeying the call or
signal, the veriest novice in field-sports will immediately
detect. It is not, however, with faults so apparent that
dogs for sale are generally to be charged. They are,
for the most part, drubbed into such show subjection *
that the tyro fancies them perfect, and only finds out

* Dogs of this kind remind me of an anecdote I remember to have
heard from a brother sportsman, but for the truth of which I cannot
vouch. Walking out with a high-broke pointer, he suddenly missed
him, when he presently espied him soberly and submissively following
the heels of an old Guinea-fowl, whose reiterated cry of "Come back,
come back," he had thought it his duty to obey ! !

DOGS FOR THE MOORS. 15

their bad breeding and nose after a week's shooting. To
assist the judgment of the uninitiated, I have given
accurate likenesses of the three best pointers I ever had.
I know some faults might be found in them, but they
have all the main requisites.

If your dogs are well bred, the great secret of making
them first-rate on the moor is, never to pass over a fault,
never chastise with great severity nor in a passion, and
to kill plenty of game over them. There are two faults,
however, to which dogs, otherwise valuable, are some-
times addicted ; these give the sportsman great annoy-
ance, but may often be more easily corrected than he is
aware. One is the inveterate habit, contracted through
bad breaking, of running in when the bird drops. Of
course, if a dog is known to have this trick, he can be
broken of it by the trash-cord and spiked collar; but
many gentlemen buy dogs before shooting over them,
and commence their day's sport without these appendages.
They are thus obliged either to couple up the dog or
run the risk of having any birds that remain, after the
pack has risen, driven up, and those that have fallen
mangled by him. I have seen dogs most unmercifully
flogged, and yet bolt with the same eagerness every
shot. It was easy to see the reason: the dog was fol-
lowed by the keeper, endeavouring to make him " down ;"
there was thus a race between them which should reach
the fallen bird.

The plan to adopt with a dog of this description is,

16 DOGS FOR THE MOORS.

when the grouse drops and the dog rushes forward, never
to stir — coolly allow him to tear away at the game until
you have loaded ; by which time he will most probably
have become ashamed of himself. You will now walk
up most deliberately, and without noticing the bird take
the dog by the ear, and pull him back to where you fired,
all the time giving several hearty shakes, and calling
"down." When you get to the spot where you shot
from, take out your whip, and between the stripes call
"down" in a loud voice; continue this at intervals for
some time, and, even when you have finished your disci-
pline, don't allow the dog to rise for ten minutes at least ;
then, after speaking a few words expressive of caution,
take him slowly up to the bird and lift it before his
nose. If this plan is rigidly followed for several points,
I never saw the dog that would continue to run in at the
shot.

The other defect is chiefly applicable to young dogs ;
it is when they trust to their more experienced comrade
to find the game, and keep continually on the outlook
expecting him to do so. Nothing can be done for this
but to pay the greatest attention to their point ; selecting
it in preference to that of the other dog, and always to
fire, however small the chance of hitting the bird. Also
change the dogs they hunt with as often as possible.
Young dogs, with this treatment, will very soon acquire
confidence, and never keep staring at their companion,
unless he is settling upon a point.

DOGS FOR THE MOORS. 17

When the sportsman rears his own puppies, he
should be most particular, not only about the acknow-
ledged excellence of the sire and dam, but also that their
breeding is unexceptionable and well-known — especially
that there is no cross of the rough, however remote, when
breeding pointers, and no smooth blood when setters
are the object. It sometimes happens that a dog, though
not well bred, may turn out first-rate ; but the progeny
of such dog or bitch hardly ever do. This double cau-
tion is therefore most necessary, as otherwise much time
and trouble might be spent upon a dog that never would
be worth it, from a mistaken idea, that as his parents
were excellent, he must in the end turn out well too.

The essentials of dog-breaking may be found in a
pamphlet, published in London a few years ago, by
the gamekeeper of Sir John Sebright. Although not
agreeing with it in every particular, I certainly think it
the best that has been written on the subject.

18 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING

WILD-FOWL SHOOTING ON THE HIGHLAND
LOCHS.

THE exciting nature of the winter shooting on one of our
large Highland lochs, if well frequented by water-fowl,
can hardly be conceived by a stranger to the sport. It,
in fact, partakes so completely of the nature of deer-
stalking, that a man who is an adept at the one would
be sure, with a little practice, to be equally so at the
other. I should have been astonished to find this amuse-
ment so little followed by gentlemen, had I not some-
times witnessed the bungling manner in which they set
about it : it is, indeed, as rare to find a gentleman who
knows any thing of this sport as a rustic who has not a
pretty good smattering of it. The reason is obvious.
The squire, who may be a tolerable shot, is all eager
anxiety until he can show off his right and left upon
the devoted fowl ; while the clod, having only his rusty
single barrel to depend upon, and knowing that if the
birds should rise, his chance is very considerably lessen-
ed, uses all the brains of which he is master in order to
get the sitting shot ; and knowing also from experience?
that the nearer he gets to his game the better his chance,
spares no trouble to come to close quarters. He will
crawl for a hundred yards like a serpent, although he

ON THE HIGHLAND LOCHS. 19

should be wet through, reckless of his trouble and dis-
comfort if he succeed in his shot.

I will now suppose the squire by the loch-side on a
fine winter morning, dressed perhaps in a flaring green
or black velveteen, with a Newfoundland retriever of the
same sable hue. He sees a flock of fowl well pitched on
the shore, which most likely have seen both him and his
dog, and are quite upon their guard. He looks round for
a few bushes to screen him wlien near the birds ; and then
with a sort of half-crouching attitude, admirably imitated
by his canine friend, advances upon his game. Unless
the place is particularly adapted for a shot, the flock have
probably seen him appearing and re-appearing several
times, and whenever he is sufficiently near to alarm them,
fly up together, to his no small chagrin. But should he
ly any chance get near enough for a shot, his dog, not
being thoroughly trained, will most likely either show
himself, or begin whimpering when his master prepares
to shoot, or, in short, do something which may spoil the
sport ; and even supposing the better alternative, that he
should have no dog at all, and be within shot of his game,
he will, in all probability, either poke his head over a bush
when going to fire, or make a rustling- when putting his
gun through it, and so lose the sitting shot.

Now for the few hints I have to offer. It may be
thought that none were wanting, after the sujbgpct of
wild-fowl shooting has been so well and fully discussed
by Colonel Hawker; but I have never seen any sug-

"20 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING

gestions to assist the beginner how to proceed in the
winter shooting on our large Highland lochs ; and many
a man may have it in his power to enjoy the recreation
in this way, who has neither opportunity nor inclination
to follow it in all its glory on the coast, with a stanchion
gun and punt.

The man who engages in this sport must be of an
athletic frame and hardy habits : he must not mind get-
ting thoroughly wet, nor think of rheumatism while
standing or sitting in clothes well soaked, perhaps for an
hour at a time, watching fowl. As to waterproof boots,
they are totally out of the question : the common diker's
boots would so impede your walking, and also be such a
hinderance when crawling upon ducks or running upon
divers, as considerably to lessen your chance ; and the
India-rubber boots would, in no time, become so perfo-
rated with briers and whin as to be of little more service
than a worsted stocking. The most suitable dress is a
light brown duffle shooting-jacket and waistcoat, as
near the shade of the ground and trees in the winter
season as possible, your great object being to avoid the
quick sight of the birds ; shoes well studded with nails,
like a deer-stalker's, to prevent slipping, and a drab-
coloured waterproof cap. Should the weather be very
cold, I sometimes put on two pairs of worsted stockings,
but never attempt any protection from the wet. If snow
is on the ground, wear a white linen cover to your shoot-
ing-jacket, and another to your cap.

ON THE HIGHLAND LOCHS. 21

A gun suitable for this sport is indispensable. It
certainly ought to be a double-barrel, and as large as
you can readily manage ; it must fit you to a nicety, and
carry from two to three ounces of No. 3 or 4 shot, (I
prefer the latter,) both very strong and regularly distri-
buted. Its elevation must be most true, if any thing
over-elevated. As to length of barrel, calibre, &c., every
man will, of course, suit his own fancy, and give his
directions accordingly. Should he not be au-fait at this,
by explaining the sort of gun he wants to any of the
first-rate makers, he need not doubt their giving him
satisfaction, and none more so than William Moore. I
never use any shot larger than No. 4, except for hoopers,*
(when, of course, I would sacrifice my chance at other
birds,) as a fair shot at a small bird like a teal might
be missed with larger ; and a man should not go alarm-
ing the whole shore, firing random shots at flocks of
fowl nearly out of reach on the water.

Next in importance to the gun, is a proper retriever.
The Newfoundland is not quite the thing: first, his
black colour is against him — brown is much to be pre-
ferred : then, I should wish my dog occasionally to assist
me in this inland shooting, by beating rushes or thick
cover up creeks, where you may often plant yourself
in an open situation for a shot, and your dog put up

* Wild-geese, bernacle, brent-geese, &c., seldom pitch upon the
Highland lochs ; the former only for a short time to rest.

WILD-FOWL SHOOTING

the fowl, which are almost certain to fly down past you.
If you accustomed a Newfoundland to this, he might,
from his strength and vivacity, learn the trick of break-
ing away when you did not wish him. The best and
most efficient kind of dog for this work is a cross be-
tween a water-dog and large terrier ; — the terrier gives
nose, and the water-dog sagacity. I should say, that be-
fore you can procure one which upon trial may prove
worth the great trouble of thoroughly training, you may
have to destroy half a dozen. You should begin your
training when the dog is very young; and, if you find he
is not turning out as you could wish, seal his fate at once.
The dog you want must be mute as a badger, and cun-
ning as a fox : he must be of a most docile and biddable
disposition — the generality of this breed are so : they are
also slow and heavy in their movements, and phlegmatic
in their temper — great requisites ; but when fowl are to
be secured, you will find no want either of will or acti-
vity, on land or water. The accompanying woodcut may
serve to show the sort of dog I mean, being a likeness of
the best I ever saw. He never gives a whimper, if ever
so keen, and obeys every signal I make with the hand.
He will watch my motions at a distance, when crawling
after wild-fowl, ready to rush forward the moment I have
fired ; and in no one instance has he spoiled my shot. I
may mention a proof of his sagacity. Having a couple
of long shots across a pretty broad stream, I stopped a
mallard with each barrel, but both were only wounded : I

N

OX THE HIGHLAND LOCHS.

sent him across for the birds ; he first attempted to bring
them both, but one always struggled out of his mouth ;
he then laid down one, intending to bring the other, but
whenever he attempted to cross to me, the bird left
fluttered into the water ; he immediately returned again,
laid down the first on the shore, and recovered the other ;
the first now fluttered away, but he instantly secured it,
and, standing over them both, seemed to cogitate for a
moment — then, although on any other occasion he never
ruffles a feather, deliberately killed one, brought over
the other, and then returned for the dead bird.

The only other essential to the sportsman is a glass ;
one of the small pocket telescopes will answer best, as it
is of great importance to be able to set it with one hand,
while you hold your gun with the other, and the distance
of a mile is all you want to command.

Having now equipped our wild-fowl shooter, we will
again bring him to the shore. His first object should be
to see his game, without being seen himself, even if they
are at too great a distance to show signs of alarm. To
effect this, he must creep cautiously forward to the first
point that will command a view of the shore for some
distance ; then, taking out his glass, he must reconnoitre
it by inches, noticing every tuft of grass or stone, to
which wild-fowl asleep often bear so close a resemblance,
that, except to a very quick eye, assisted by a glass, the
difference is not perceptible. If the loch be well fre-
quented, he will most likely first discover a flock of

24 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING

divers, but must not be in a hurry to pocket his glass,
until he has thoroughly inspected the shore, in case some
more desirable fowl may be feeding or asleep upon it. I
will suppose that he sees some objects that may be wild-
fowl. Let him then immediately direct his glass to the very
margin of the loch, to see if any thing is moving there ;
should he find it so, he may conclude that it is a flock of
either duck, widgeon, or teal ; those first perceived resting
on the shore, and the others feeding at the water's edge,
of course not nearly so conspicuous. If there is no mo-
tion at the margin of the loch, he must keep his glass
fixed, and narrowly watch for some time, when, if what
arrested his attention be wild-fowl asleep, they will, in
all probability, betray themselves by the motion of a
head or the flapping of a wing.

He must now take one or two large marks, that he will
be sure to know again, as close to the birds as possible ;
and also another, about two or three hundred yards, im-
mediately above, farther inland. Having done this, let
him take a very wide circle, and come round upon his in-
land mark. He must now walk as if treading upon glass :
the least rustle of a bough, or crack of a piece of rotten
wood under his feet, may spoil all, especially if the
weather be calm. Having got to about one hundred
yards from where he supposes the birds to be, he will tell
his retriever to lie down ; the dog, if well trained, will at
once do so, and never move. His master will then crawl
forward, until he gets the advantage of a bush or tuft of

ON THE HIGHLAND LOCHS. 25

reeds, and then raise his head by inches to look through
it for his other marks. Having seen them, he has got an
idea where the birds are, and will, with the utmost cau-
tion, endeavour to catch sight of them. I will suppose
him fortunate enough to do so, and that they are per-
fectly unconscious of his near approach. He must lower
his head in the same cautious manner, and look for some
refuge at a fair distance from the birds, through which he
may fire the deadly sitting shot. After crawling serpent-
like to this, he will again raise his head by hair-breadths,
and, peeping through the bush or tuft, select the greatest
number of birds in line ; then drawing back a little, in
order that his gun may be just clear of the bush for the
second barrel, after having fired the first through it, will
take sure aim at his selected victims. Should he un-
fortunately not find an opening to fire through, the only
other alternative is by almost imperceptible degrees to
raise his gun to the right of the bush, and close to it ;
but in doing this the birds are much more likely to see
him and take wing. Never fire over the bush, as you are
almost certain to be perceived whenever you raise your
head : more good shots are lost to an experienced hand
by a rapid jerk, not keeping a sufficient watch for strag-
glers, and over-anxiety to fire, than by any other way.
Having succeeded in getting the sitting shot, the fowl,
especially if they have not seen from whence it comes,
will rise perpendicularly in the air, and you are not un-
likely to have a chance of knocking down a couple more

2f) WILD-FOWL SHOOTING

with your second barrel ; but if they rise wide, you must
select the finest old mallard among them, or whatever
suits your fancy. Directly upon hearing the report,
your retriever will rush to your assistance, and having
secured your cripples, you will reload, and taking out
your glass reconnoitre again ; for though ducks, widgeon,
&c., would fly out upon the loch at the report of your
gun, yet the diver tribe, if there are only one or two to-
gether, are perhaps more likely to be under water than
above when you fire ; but more of them anon.

Another invariable rule in crawling upon ducks, is al-
ways, if possible, to get to leeward of them • for, although
I am firmly of opinion that they do not wind you like
deer, as some suppose, yet their hearing is most acute.
I have seen instances of this that I could hardly other-
wise have credited. One day I got within about sixty
yards of three ducks asleep upon the shore ; the wind was
blowing very strong, direct from me to them, a thick
hedge forming my ambuscade. The ground was quite
bare beyond this hedge, so I was obliged to take the dis-
tant shot through it : in making the attempt, I rustled
one of the twigs — up went the three heads to the full
stretch, but when I had remained quiet for about five
minutes, they again placed their bills under their wings ;
upon a second trial, the slight noise was unfortunately
repeated; again the birds raised their heads, but this
time they were much longer upon the stretch, and seemed
more uneasy. Nothing now remained but to try again ;

ON THE HIGHLAND LOCHS. 27

my utmost caution, however, was unavailing, and the birds
rose like rockets. I never hesitate concealing myself
to windward of the spot where I expect ducks to pitch,
feeling confident that unless I move they will not find
me out. I have often had them swimming within twenty-
five yards of me, when I was waiting for three or four in
line, the wind blowing direct from me to them, without
perceiving by any signs their consciousness of an enemy's
vicinity.*

When the weather is very hard, and ducks are driven
to the springy drains, a simple way of getting fair shots,
but seldom practised, is, to make your man keep close to
the drain, and take your own place fifteen yards from it,
and about forty in advance of him. The ducks will then
rise nearly opposite to you. To walk along the drain is
not a good plan, as they will generally rise either out of
distance or very long shots : and if you keep a little way
off, they may not rise at all. When the loch is low the
sportsman may often get a capital shot at ducks, the first
warm sunny days in March, as they collect on the grassy
places at the margin, to feed upon the insects brought
into life by the genial heat.

* Perhaps the sportsman may ask what it signifies whether wild-
fowl are aware of your approach by hearing or winding ? My answer
is, that although it is of little consequence when crawling upon ducks,
yet when lying concealed, expecting them to pitch, it is a considerable
advantage to "know that you will not be detected by their sense of
smell ; otherwise the best refuge for a shot must often be abandoned
for a much worse.

28 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING

But to return to our wild-fowl shooter, whom we left
glass in hand looking out for divers. He sees a couple
plying their vocation fifteen or twenty yards from the
shore, about half a quarter of a mile from where he
stands. He selects his vantage ground as near as pos-
sible for a last look before commencing his attack.
Having gained this, he makes his dog lie down, and
peeps cautiously until he sees the birds — waits till they
both dive together, then rushing forward whilst they are
under water, again conceals himself, expecting their
reappearance. The great difficulty is always to keep
in view the exact spot where the birds come up : once
lose sight of it, your progress is stopped, and, in recover-
ing your advantage, the birds are almost certain to see
you and fly. When within one race of the divers, cock
both barrels, and as soon as they together disappear,
rush to the nearest point on the shore for a shot. If the
day be calm, the rising bubbles will show where they
are ; you can then clap your gun to your shoulder, ready
to fire. Always, in such cases, shoot on wing, and
be sure to fire well forward : should a diver only be
winged, it is useless to tire your retriever in pursuit;
but if he is at all struck about the legs also, a good dog
should be able to secure him.

So much for the small morillon. The golden-eye is a
still more artful bird, and requires more caution. If,
without seeing an enemy, he is at all alarmed while
diving near the shore, he will probably swim out to a

ON THE HIGHLAND LOCHS. 29

considerable distance; reconnoitring all the time, and
making a noise something like a single note of the
hurdy-gurdy. You may perhaps expect his return, and
wait for him; but although he may remain about the
same place, making these calls, and apparently careless,
he is all the time very suspicious; and I only once or
twice, in my whole experience, knew him return to the
spot where he was first discovered. Should he get sight
of you, there is no hope, even if he does not take wing,
which he most likely will. The little morillon may
return, if you think him worth waiting for ; but he is
so hard and coarse on the table, that it would be paying
him too great a compliment. The golden-eye, on the
contrary, is a great delicacy — a sufficient proof, I think,
were there no other, that morillons are not young golden-
eyes, as many suppose. When several are diving toge-
ther, you must get as near as possible without alarming
them; and, selecting a couple who dive at the same
moment, hoot away the others, who will be far out of
reach before their companions come up. They will pro-
bably never miss them until they have taken two or
three dives, thus giving you an opportunity of getting
the shot ; of which you would have had a much worse
chance while they were together.

Of all wild-fowl, a flock of dun-birds is the most
agreeable to the sportsman's eye. They are the most
stupid of all the diver race : I have even seen them,
after having been driven from their feeding-ground,

30 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING

return in the face of the shooter, who had only lain down
without any covering or concealment whatever: they
have begun diving again within thirty yards, and of
course given him a capital shot. I never wish for assist-
ance in manoeuvring for any other kind of water-fowl,
but these may be herded like sheep ; and, if feeding
on one side of a bay, you have only to conceal yourself
at the other, and send your man round to where they
are diving. They will most likely come straight towards
you, and, again beginning to feed, will probably every
five or ten minutes draw all together with their heads
up. Now is your time to fire, if you have the good for-
tune to be within shot ; but should you prefer two birds
in the hand to waiting for their knitting together, you
may have a capital right and left when they come up
from diving : I, however, should be loath to lose the
opportunity of the sitting shot.

There are many other divers that frequent our lochs,
such as the tufted and scaup-ducks, &c., but they may
all be approached in the same way as the golden-eye and
morillon ; none are so shy as the former. Those that
feed on fish, such as the goosander, speckled diver, shel-
drake, &c., require rather different tactics. To get a shot
at any of these, you must watch which way they are feed-
ing, and, taking your station somewhat in advance, wait
until they pass you: they will not keep you long, as
they are very rapid in their movements. Take care that
the water is pretty deep where you place yourself, or

ON THE HIGHLAND LOCHS. 31

they may dive at too great a distance from the shore for
a shot ; but, after all, they are good for nothing but to
be stuffed for a collection.

The only other bird that requires a separate notice is
the mighty hooper, monarch of the flood. To get a shot
at the wild swan is the great object of the sportsman's
desire : he is not naturally so shy a bird as the wild-duck,
but still his long neck, and acute sense of hearing, render
great caution necessary. If, as often happens, he is feed-
ing along the shore, you have only to plant yourself in
an advantageous situation a good way ahead, and it
will not be long before he makes his appearance ; but if
he is feeding at the mouth of some brook or stream, you
must crawl in the same way as when after wild-ducks.
Should you get within a distant shot of a hooper, and
are not close to the water-side, instead of firing from
where you are, rush down to the edge of the loch, and
before the swan can take wing you will have gained ten
yards upon him. When the thaw begins after very hard
weather, they are almost sure to be feeding at the mouths
of any mountain burns that run into the loch. Should
you see hoopers strong on the feed, nearly out of range
of your gun, in place of taking the random shot, try to
prevent their being disturbed, and return at dusk of
evening or grey of morning, when they will most likely
have come pretty close to the shore, especially if any
little rivulets run into the loch near — this rule applies to
most water-fowl. If a swan be alarmed by an enemy on

32 WILD-FOWL SHOOTING

shore, his wont is not to fly, but to swim majestically
away.

Widgeon and teal are approached in the same way as
wild-ducks, only the widgeon are less shy than the ducks,
and the teal than the widgeon. You may sometimes,
in calm weather, see widgeon in a large flock purring
and whistling a couple of hundred yards from the shore ;
you need give yourself no trouble about them, as they
will probably not leave their resting-place until they feed
in the evening. Always try to get a heavy shot at
widgeon, which, with a little patience, you may generally
accomplish. Teal are usually in small flocks ; so that, if
you can get two or three in line, you had better fire,
for fear of losing the sitting chance altogether. I once
killed six at a shot ; but, except \vhen they collect in
small ponds and drains about the loch-side, so good an
opportunity seldom occurs. I have occasionally seen
shovellers on our lochs ; but only in the hardest winters.
They resemble wild-ducks in their habits — the only one
I ever shot was among a flock of ducks.

As an instance of what may be done by patience and
caution, I may conclude this paper by mentioning, that
the gamekeeper of a relation, having seen a flock of
ducks pitched upon the shore, and no way of getting
near them but over a bare field, crawled flat upon his
face a distance of three hundred yards, pushing his gun
before him, not daring even to raise his head, and at last
got within such fair distance, that he stopped four with

ON THE HIGHLAND LOCHS. 33

his first barrel, and one with the other, securing them all.
His gun was only a small fowling-piece. I should add
that he had been trained to deer-stalking, under his
father, from a boy.

34 ROE-SHOOTING.

THE ROE :

HABITS, MANNER OF SHOOTING, ETC.

MANY of the woods that fringe our most romantic lochs
and glens abound with the roe ; its chief food being the
leaves in summer, and the tender tops of the trees in
winter. I do not mean to say that it is not also fond of
grass or clover, but the other is its most natural choice.
So destructive is it to young woods, that many gentlemen
give it no quarter on this account. Even trees of con-
siderable growth are not safe from its attacks; the buck
sometimes fixing his horns against the stem, walking
round and round until the ground is bared, and the bark
so injured that the tree dies. The favourite haunts of
the roe are those belts of young plantation, surmounted
by large pine forests, common throughout the Highlands ;
the former supply it with food, and the latter give it
shelter.

The pursuit of the roe, if followed in a proper way,
affords first-rate sport, and taxes to the full the strength,
skill, and energy of the hunter; but this is seldom the
case, and the generality of roe-hunts are nothing but
blunders from beginning to end. The common way of

,,

ROE-SHOOTING. 35

proceeding is, to place half-a-dozen gentlemen with their
guns in the passes, and then, with a host of beaters and
dogs, to scour the plantations, always commencing at the
windward side, where the roes are sure to be found. I
confess I have no great liking to this plan ; the planta-
tions are thoroughly disturbed, almost every head of
game being driven out ; and I never saw a party of this
kind succeed much better than when one or two expe-
rienced roe-hunters had the whole sport to themselves.

A description of one of these noisy parties will, with a
few exceptions, apply to all. We will suppose the sports-
men snugly in their passes, while the beaters and dogs
are in full hoot and howl in the wood below ; one man
allows the roe to slip by unobserved, until it is almost
out of reach, then fires his buck-shot, perhaps wounding
his game, which the dogs are unable to run down ; an-
other never sees it at all; a third shows himself in the pass,
and so throws away his chance ; and I have even known
two instances of our brethren from the south leaving their
posts for a time to take a comfortable luncheon — their
love of a roe-pasty prevailing over their love of the chase.
One of them was only detected by the hounds and roe
having run right through his pass during his absence.
Although a man should not be so churlish as to refuse
joining a party of this kind, yet I could excuse any
knowing roe-hunter for anticipating with greater pleasure
and hope of success the day when he should take the
field alone.

36 ROE-SHOOTING.

Such a one will always prefer a day with scarcely a
breath of air, high wind being destruction to his sport :
first, from the difficulty of hearing the hound ; and next,
from the currents of air which he will be obliged to
avoid, lest the roe should wind him. His only com-
panion is a very slow and steady hound. Thoroughly
acquainted with all the passes, he places himself in that
he considers the best, ready to change his position should
the baying of the hound seem to indicate that the roe
has taken a different direction. If it escapes at the first
burst, he is not at all disconcerted, as his tactics now begin.
The roe perhaps stretches away into the large pine forest,
and he sees his good hound slowly and surely threading
his way through the thick underwood, making the welkin
ring. Now is the time for our sportsman to display the
strength of his lungs and limbs. Aware that the roe,
after a fair heat, will probably slacken his speed, and
with the hound scarcely more than a hundred yards be-
hind, course slowly round and round a knot of hillocks,
perhaps for half an hour at a time, he will use his utmost
efforts to keep within hearing of the bay. Whenever
this appears nearly confined to one place, he advances
with extreme caution, peering round at every step, with
his gun cocked and held ready to fire. The sound seems
now at hand — again more distant, as it is obstructed by
the intervening hillocks; he conceals himself upon an
angle of one of them, near the centre of the knot, to
command as good a view both ways as he can. If the

ROE-SHOOTING. 37

hound continues opening near, he watches with the utmost
vigilance, almost holding his breath to catch the slightest
sound. After waiting some time, should the dog still
remain near, he will occasionally shift his position, but
always with the same caution.

A novice would scarcely believe the noiseless step with
which a roe will often pass, and the scanty covering of
brushwood that will screen it from observation. Should
it slip by in this manner, you will of course immediately
know by the tracking of the hound, which has often made
me aware of its almost magical transit. Attention and ex-
perience, however, will considerably lessen the roe's chance
of escape. Whenever it takes another direction, follow
at your best speed, until it again tries the dodging game.
Continue the pursuit so long as your hound is stanch,
and your own strength holds out, taking advantage of
every pass within and round the wood.

Here let me give two cautions : always to dress as
near the colour of the ground and trees as you can, and
when concealed never to make the least motion ; if you
do, the roe will at once perceive it and stop short. You
will most likely only be made aware of its having done
so by the hound coming within forty or fifty yards, and
then turning away in another direction. When properly
dressed, even should your place of concealment not be
very good, the roe will be pretty sure to pass if you keep
perfectly still. This is even more necessary when expect-
ing a hill-fox. Should the roe take a straight course,

38 ROE-SHOOTING.

right out of your beat, you must await its return, which,
if it has not been alarmed or shot at, you may pretty
confidently expect.

In recommending the above manner of roe-shooting, it
must be remembered that I do not say it is easy ; but I
do say that, when thoroughly understood, it will be
attended with much greater success in the long run, and
the roes will be less disturbed, than when many of the
passes are kept by novices in the sport. I once, in Ken-
mure wood, at the head of Loch Lomond, by this mode
killed two in a few hours, one of them a very fine old
buck, without harassing any others ; while a party of five
or six of us, and beaters to correspond, after alarming
the whole wood, and firing many shots, only got three
yearling fawns in four whole days.

Many gentlemen have a great prejudice against allow-
ing hounds to enter their covers, for fear of driving the
roes away, when the blame should rather be laid on their
large party, unskilful mano3uvring, and long random shots.
I have had good proof that roes are not so much afraid
of fox-hounds as people suppose. A gentleman of my
acquaintance had a newly-planted wood much injured by
them : he desired the gamekeeper to hunt them out ; so
little, however, did this frighten them, that they have
been known to return within an hour after the hounds
were taken off, nor would they leave the place until one
or two had been shot.

Nor is this the only instance which has come within

ROE-SHOOTING. 39

my own notice. On the shooting-ground which I took
for a season at Kinnaird, in Perthshire, was a pine wood,
with an oak copse at the side ; here I frequently saw a
fine buck and two does feeding. They were very tame,
and I tried in vain to beat them out with the shepherd's
dogs. I had not then much knowledge of roe-hunting ;
but I procured an old hound, and pursued them every
day for a week without getting a shot. They were still
to be found in their old haunts every morning, although
ever so hard hunted the day before. They would take a
stretch upon the open moor for an hour, and then return,
always keeping together : and it was only by marking a
much-used pass that I at length succeeded in getting a
very fair right and left, killing the buck with one barrel,
and one of the does with the other. A stray shot struck
the other doe, which happened to be in line, and broke
her leg, although I was not aware of it. Two days after,
a farmer sent me word that a wounded roe had been seen
in the wood. I again put the hound into the cover, and
in a short time the poor creature came limping past, when
I shot it, to prevent the dog from putting it to a more
cruel death. I do not mention this as claiming any
merit, for the shots were open, near, and easy; greater
skill might have secured them some time before : but I
think a fair inference in proof of my assertion may be
drawn from this and other instances of the kind.

The roe's sagacity in discovering real from apparent
danger is remarkable: the crouching shooter with his

40 ROE-SHOOTING.

deadly gun is instantly detected, while the harmless work-
man may even blast the rock and cause no alarm. This
fact I have been assured of by men employed on the
Highland road, who had often seen the roes peeping at
them from the cliffs above, watching their whole pro-
ceedings without any signs of fear.

The roe has no great kindliness to the fallow deer. It
is a curious fact, that on Loch Lomond there are two
large wooded islands which the roes constantly haunt,
without ever crossing to a third, where deer are kept,
though well adapted to their habits. .When swimming
in and out of these islands, the roes have regular passes
as on land, but if a boat be near they will never attempt
to cross. A few years ago, an English gentleman wish-
ing for a couple, a plan of catching them in the water
was thought of; for this purpose, boats were concealed
near the passes, and the roes hunted out of the islands :
but they were such dexterous swimmers, and doubled so
well, that they always escaped, until the thought of fixing
a noose to a pole suggested itself, by which simple de-
vice they were soon secured. In a short time, they be-
came quite domesticated, and would eat from the hand
of their keeper.

Another was caught many years ago, which my brothers
and I, when boys, begged to be allowed to tame. We
used to bring it leaves in great quantities, which it would
eat from our hands, always preferring those of the moun-
tain-ash. The confinement, however, did not agree with

ROE-SHOOTING. 41

it; and, although supplied with grass, clover, and every
thing we could think of, it fell off in condition, and we
were obliged to set it free.

The roe has two young ones at a time, the most
beautiful little creatures possible. It is curious to see
them, when started, bound away with the greatest acti-
vity, though no bigger than a cat.

42 THE MOUNTAIN-FQX.

THE MOUNTAIN-FOX.

OCCASIONALLY, while ranging for roes, the hounds
come on the track of a hill-fox; they will then show
even more than their usual keenness, and open with
greater ardour. As the same passes often serve for
both, the roe-hunter has sometimes an opportunity of
shooting this wily destroyer. Such a chance only occurs
when prey is scarce on the mountains, and he leaves
them to seek it in the woods below ; I therefore do not
recommend having a charge of smaller shot in one
barrel — a plan adopted by some.

Any one who sees the hill-fox bounding along within
fair distance, will immediately be struck with the differ-
ence of his appearance from that of the small cur, which
never leaves the low grounds. The mountain-fox is a
splendid-looking fellow ; even the sneaking gait of the
enemy of the poultry-yard has, in a great measure,
left him ; he seems to feel that he breathes a freer air,
and lives by more noble plunder. He is extremely de-
structive to all game within his range, and the havoc he
makes among the hill-lambs is a serious loss to the
farmer. He will also not unfrequently attack and de-
stroy full-grown sheep. To prevent the increase of

THE MOUNTAIN-FOX. 43

these freebooters, a man is appointed for each district
of the Highlands, called " the fox-hunter," whose busi-
ness it is to search out and destroy the young litters, in
which he is ably seconded by the farmers and shep-
herds.

The place selected by the mountain-fox for rearing its
young, is widely different from that of his pigmy relation
of the Lowlands. Unlike the latter, who chooses an old
badger-earth or drain, in the midst, perhaps, of a
pheasant preserve, the hill-fox prefers some wild and
craggy ravine, on the top or side of a mountain, far
removed from the haunts of men. In spring, these places
are all narrowly searched by the shepherds, and the den
(for you cannot call the clefts of the rock an earth) often
detected by the quantities of wool, feathers of grouse,
&c., scattered about the entrance. These are the re-
mains of prey brought to the young ; for as soon as they
are able to eat flesh, the old ones leave them during the
day, bringing them food morning and evening.

When the litter is discovered, "the fox-hunter" is
brought into requisition, (who often at this time has
more calls than he can answer;) his terriers are sent into
the den, and the young massacred ; a watch is then set
to command a view all round, in order, if possible, to
shoot the old ones when they return. I have been told
by people thus employed, that they had no idea of the
proverbial cunning of the fox until they saw it shown
upon such occasions. Although the place has been per-

44 THE MOUNTAIN-FOX.

fectly bare, the old ones have come unperceived within
ten yards of the party, and were at last only discovered
by the straining of the dogs on the leash. I have often
heard the watchers say, that the ease with which " the
tod " avoids their faces, and skulks behind their backs, is
most surprising. If the foxes escape the guns, as they
commonly do, " the streakers " * are slipped upon them,
and, if not then run down, nothing remains to be done
but again to set the watch. So long as the old ones
are prevented from entering, they will return morning
and evening for several days ; but, should either of them
get access, and miss the young, they come back no more.
At those times of the year when there are no litters, the
usual way of hunting is to place a man, with a streaker
or greyhound ready to slip, upon the tops of the neigh-
bouring hills ; the fox-hunter then draws all the corries,
crags, &c., where they haunt. Should Reynard be started,
he is almost sure to take a course over the top of one of
the hills where the men are posted. He comes up all
blown, and, if observed, (which, I must say, is seldom the
case, ) has a fresh streaker slipped upon him, which ought
to run him down.

I may here give an account of a hunt I had with one of
my brothers, after as fine a mountain-fox as ever prowled
upon the wild moor. We had gone on a roe-hunting

* A breed between the largest size of greyhound and foxhound.
Some of them are swift, very savage, and admirably adapted for the
purpose.

THE MOUNTAIN-FOX. 45

expedition to a high and steep hill in Dumbartonshire,
the lower part of which was an oak and larch copse, the
centre a large pine-wood, and the top covered with long
heather. After choosing our passes between the pine-
wood and copse, we sent a first-rate old hound to draw
the latter ; scarcely had it been in the cover ten minutes,
when it opened upon a cold scent, and continued puz-
zling for a considerable time. As this was not its wont
when upon a roe, we half suspected a fox : presently the
scent warmed, and in a short time the hound opened gaily.
Our hopes were high, as it came straight in the direction
of our passes. In a moment I heard my brother fire;
and the baying of the hound ceasing shortly after, I con-
cluded the shot had taken effect, and walked off to see
what he had killed. When I had gone a little distance,
I met him running and calling to me to get into my
pass again, as he had shot at an enormous fox in the
thickest part of the cover ; and as it had doubled back,
which had occasioned the check, it would most likely
try my pass next. I wheeled about at full speed, and
arrived just too late for a deadly shot. When within
seventy yards of the pass, the fox was bounding over the
stone wall that divides the copse from the pine-wood,
and presenting his broadside, a very distant but clear
and open shot. I discharged both barrels, and watched
narrowly to see if he was hit ; the ground was level for
a short way, and no abatement of his speed was percep-
tible ; but as soon as he began to climb the hill, a labour-

46 THE MOUNTAIN-FOX.

ing motion at once told that one of us had wounded him.
Without stopping to load, I ran to see if there was blood
upon the grass, and when thus engaged, the hound, which
had recovered the track, came up full cry. I had no
choice left but to breast the hill, and, if possible, keep
within hearing of the dog. Panting and breathless, I
could hear the bay more and more distant, and was just
beginning to fear that the fox's object was the savage
ravines of Glen-Douglas, when it ceased on a sudden.
Encouraged by the hope that he might be run down, I
redoubled my exertions, and, after scrambling a mile and
a half from where I fired, saw the hound at check, at the
top of the pine-wood where it joins the heather. I made
several unsuccessful casts above ; and then, thinking that,
unable to climb the hill, he had returned to the shelter
of the wood, I was making a circle below, when he
sprung out of the heather, not thirty yards off, and ran
straight down the hill, his lagging and staggering gait
showing that he had got his death-wound. I would now
have given a good deal had my gun been loaded; but
not a moment was to be lost, as the hound viewed the
fox, and was again full cry. I dashed over stock and
stone, but it was not long before there was another pause
in mid career. When I came up the ground was per-
fectly bare, not a furze-bush to cover a rat, and the
hound completely at fault. I had just taken out my
powder-flask to load, when, from no other concealment
than the bare stem of a fallen fir-tree, the fox a second

THE MOUNTAIN-FOX. 47

time burst out, as fair a shot as I could wish. The
hound was close to his brush, so back went my powder-
flask into my pocket, and I rushed down the steep with
reckless desperation. The bay became fainter and fainter,
my head grew dizzy, I had run a distance' of three miles
on one of the steepest hills in Scotland, and had just
given up hope of another check, when I heard a wood-
man's axe. More by signs than words, I made him com-
prehend that he must follow the dog as long as he was
able ; sat down to rest for a moment, and then loaded
my gun. No sound was now to be heard; the whole
wood seemed as if it had never been disturbed. I shoul-
dered my gun, and was proceeding, as I thought, in the
direction of the chase, when I met my brother, who had
from the first taken a different route, in order to inter-
cept the fox at another point. We proceeded together
in search of hound and woodman, but for a long time
unsuccessfully; at last we thought of returning to the
place where I first found him at work. Our delight may
be imagined, when we saw the hound tied upj the wood-
man smoking his pipe, and the fox lifeless on the ground,
a perfect monster. The man's account was, that after
following a considerable way, and being nearly distanced,
there was a sudden check ; when he came up, he found
the fox dead, the hound standing over him, without
having touched a hair — he had run till his heart was
broken. We sent this magnificent fox to be stuffed at
the College Museum, Glasgow : those who had charge

48 THE MOUNTAIN-FOX.

of it told us they had never seen one nearly so large, and
many who came on purpose to see it were equally asto-
nished at its size. It is now in my possession ; and the
woodcut shows most correctly the difference between it
and a very fine specimen of the poultry-fox, shot in my
brother's preserves. The brush of the larger fox is not
longer than that of the smaller, and less white on the
tip, but it is uncommonly thick and bushy. He stands
very high upon his legs, which are exceedingly muscular ;
his head is very broad, and his nose not nearly so peaked
as the other's ; his coat is also much more shaggy, and
mixed with white hairs — an invariable mark of the hill-
fox, and which makes his colour lighter and a less
decided red than the fox of the Lowlands.

I

THE WILD-CAT. 49

THE WILD. CAT.

THE wild-cat is now rare in this country. Although
I have spent a great part of my life in the most moun-
tainous districts of Scotland, where killing vermin formed
the gamekeeper's principal business, and often my own
recreation, I have never seen more than five or six genu-
ine wild-cats. Many, on reading this, will perhaps won-
der at my statement, and even give it a flat contradiction,
by alleging the numbers that have come under their own
notice. Nay, I was even gravely told by a gentleman
from the south of England, a keen observer and fond of
natural history, that there were wild-cats there,* and the
skin of a cat killed in one of the southern counties was
sent to me as a proof; this, I need hardly say, was the
large and sleek coat of an overgrown Tom, whose ances-
tors, no doubt, had purred upon the hearth-rug.

I am far from meaning that there are no cats running
wild in England ; of course, wherever there are tame
cats, some of them, especially the very old ones, will

* I have been frequently assured that wild-cats have been killed on
the Cumberland and Westmoreland hills ; but, never having seen any
specimens, I cannot speak from my own knowledge. There is no doubt
that martins exist in some of the most hilly and wooded districts of
England.

D

50 THE WILD-CAT.

forsake their homes, and live by plunder in the woods.
These may also breed ; but their progeny, though undo-
mesticated, will always be widely different in habits, in
appearance, in strength, and in ferocity, from the true
cat of the mountains. I have seen no less than thirty of
these naturalized wild-cats trapped in a single preserve in
the Highlands ; some of them might have been mistaken
for the genuine breed. The colour in both was pretty
much alike, but there were other points which clearly
showed their domestic origin. They were, in fact, a cross
between the wild and tame cat. I have seen many of
this kind stuffed in museums and collections, as fine spe-
cimens of the wild-cat, and believed to be so even by
those who might have known better.

The unerring marks of the thorough-bred species are,
first, the great size, — next, the colour, which does not
vary as in the domestic animal, but is always a dusky
gray, brindled on the belly and flanks with dingy brown —
hair long and rough, — the head exceedingly broad, — ears
short, — tusks extremely large. Another very distinguish-
ing point is the great length and power of the limbs. It
stands as high as a good-sized dog. • But perhaps the most
unfailing mark of all is the tail, which is so long and
bushy as to strike the most careless observer. In the
males it is generally much shorter than in the females,
but even more remarkable, being almost as thick as a
fox's brush.

The woodcut is taken from the largest female that has

TNE WILD-CAT. 51

ever been killed in Dumbartonshire, and most correctly
shows the difference of its size from that of a full-grown
house-cat. It was trapped on the banks of Loch Lomond
in the depth of winter, having come down to the low
ground in quest of prey. The bait was half a hare, hung
on a tree, the trap being set immediately under. The
person who went to inspect it thought, when at a little
distance, that a yearling lamb was caught. As he came
near, the cat sprang up two or three feet from the ground,
carrying the large heavy trap as if scarcely feeling its
weight. He would have had great difficulty in killing
it, had he not dodged round the tree when aiming a blow.
I have seen two males bearing the same proportion to
this specimen, both in size and fierceness of aspect, as
an old half-wild Tom to a chimney-nook mother Tabby.
One of these was shot by a gamekeeper, when on a
grouse-shooting expedition, in a very remote range ; the
other was trapped near the top of a high mountain.

Except in the depth of a very severe winter, the wild-
cat seldom leaves its lone retreat. Nothing comes amiss
to it in the shape of prey ; lambs, grouse, hares, are all
seized with equal avidity. The female fears nothing
when in defence of her young, and will attack even man
himself. She generally rears them in rocky clefts and
precipices. I saw a couple of young ones that were
killed in one of the mountain cairns ; they were nearly
as large as a house-cat, although not many weeks old.
It was curious to see their short tails, and helpless,

52 THE WILD-CAT.

unformed kitten look, contrasted with their size. Several
attempts were made to shoot the old one, but she was
never seen ; probably, upon missing her young, she for-
sook the haunt.

The wild-cat has seldom more than three or four young
ones at a time — often only two.

THE MARTIN. 53

THE MARTIN.

THIS beautiful connecting link between the fowmarte *
and the cat is not a native of this country. It was im-
ported, I believe, from America, and is pretty generally
dispersed over the wild and wooded districts of Scotland.
It has none of the offensive odour of the fowmarte, and
even more alertness and activity than the cat. Running
at a little distance, it looks exactly like a giant weasel.
In some the breast is nearly white, whilst in others it is
a bright orange, which has given occasion to the suppo-
sition, that they are varieties of the species ; but I have
no doubt they are the same. Of the many I have seen
trapped or shot, I always remarked that the male was
darker in the colour, and his breast almost white ; that
of the female was orange, and the fur lighter brown. I
had a male and female stuffed that were trapped together
at the same bait, exactly answering to this description.

When pursued, the martin, although its legs are so
short, can run faster than a cat; this it does by a suc-
cession of springs, for which its long body gives it a
great advantage. As a last resource, it will climb

k The name Fowmarte is a Scottish corruption from the Teutonic
Ful, fetid, and Herder, a martin.

54 THE MARTIN.

trees, and spring from one to another, like a squirrel. I
once, with two or three companions, had a curious hunt
of this kind. The martin had been driven by a very
swift terrier into a clump of pines, which it so nearly
resembled in colour, that we had great difficulty to keep
sight of it. At last we thought of cutting off its retreat
by climbing all the adjacent trees : the creature showed
great coolness when thus driven to extremities, awaiting
the approach of its enemy, perched on the pinnacle of
the tallest pine ; and it was only when one of our party
got quite close, that it sprang from the top to the bottom
of the tree, rebounding nearly a yard from the hard turf,
just where I was standing, and, not a whit disconcerted,
darted off at full speed, gained a precipice, and made good
its escape.

Unless hard pressed, however, the martin is more apt
to go to earth, or take shelter in the clefts of the rocks,
than upon trees. When run to ground by a fox-hound,
there is no creature more easily smoked out ; it will bolt
almost immediately, and numbers are killed in this man-
ner, although, from the quickness and uncertainty of its
exit, it is any thing but an easy shot.

When in quest of prey, it is daring as well as mis-
chievous; not so apt to leave its secure haunts in the
day-time, but under cover of darkness will travel many
miles, committing great devastation in preserves; and,
unless trapped or shot, will return night after night to
the poultry-yard, killing many more fowls than it de-

THE MARTIN. 55

vours. One of these marauders had nearly made a clear
sweep of my father's poultry: it kept peering over the
perch with the greatest impudence, and could scarcely
be driven thence by the dairymaid : no sooner was she
out of sight than it would return. One of the farm-ser-
vants at last procured a trap, and having set it without
art or covering, the loud screams of the robber presently
made known his capture.

The martin generally selects a magpie's nest in the
thickest pine-tree, and there rears its young; hence it
has obtained the name of pine-weasel. One, however,
was brought me that had its li tter in the thatch of an old
barn ; it was detected by a dog, driven out, and shot :
the young were rather smaller than kittens, and quite as
sweet and clean.

If seized by the breast, the martin, like the cat, is
easily killed by a good dog; but the skull is so hard,
that I have seen one, when released from a trap with all
its legs broken, roll away upon the ground, after receiving
half-a-dozen hard blows on the head from the keeper's
cudgel. This animal being easily trapped or run down,
is not nearly so numerous now as it was some years
ago.

56 LOCH-FISHING.

LOCH-FISHING.

THE true angler is almost always a lover of nature ; if
not, he loses half the pleasure of his art. In following
the river's course, he must of necessity pass through
the finest and most varied scenery ; and that, too, at a
time when beauty crowns the year. But, enchanting as
are the woodland banks of the quiet stream, there is to
me a higher and yet more powerful charm in the soli-
tary wildness or savage grandeur of the Highland loch.
The very stilhess of those bare hills and craggy summits,
broken only by the rushing of some rapid burn that
intersects them, has a tendency to elevate, while it calms
the mind ; and I envy not the man who could frequent
such scenes and not feel them.

But if the proficient in the gentle craft has an eye
equally keen to the beauties so lavishly scattered around
him, it happens no less often that the admirer of nature's
wildest charms fancies himself an angler. Our man of
taste has, perhaps, fished a few rivers near him, in the
spring, when trout are lean and hungry; and, having
chosen a propitious day, has sometimes returned with
a tolerable creelful. He then starts on his pleasure-
tour, and of course his fishing-rod forms an important

LOCH-FISHING. 57

accompaniment. At first, he makes some determined
attacks upon the finny tribe ; but, being generally
unsuccessful, his rod is laid aside, and, after having
been delighted with the sublimities and beauties of half
the Highlands, he returns home with but an indifferent
account of his piscatorial achievements. To such an
one I particularly address the few simple directions in
loch-fishing, which time and patience have enabled me
to collect.

There are particular times in every season when trout
more readily take in many of the Highland lochs, and these
it should be the angler's first study to discover. For
instance, the best time for trolling with the minnow, in
Loch Vennachar, is from the end of February to the
middle of May, when large fish may be taken. They
never rise well at the fly in this loch. In Loch Lomond,
the trolling does not begin till May, and only lasts till
the middle of June, when the fly-fishing commences.
More may then be caught, but, with the exception of
sea-trout, seldom nearly so large as with the minnow.
In Loch Katrine, you may troll with success all the
season. The fishing in Lochs Earn, Lubnaig, and Yoil,
is not good till May : the trout in those lochs being small,
they are never trolled except for the gillaroo, which
inhabits them all, and sometimes grows to a great size.
The trouting in Loch Ard is best at an early part of the
year, falling off very much as the season advances ; while
Lochs Chon and Dhu, not so good as Loch Ard at the

58 LOCH-FISHING.

beginning of it, are much better afterwards. In short,
a number of the lochs in the Highlands may, at certain
times, be either fly-fished or trolled with greater suc-
cess. There are also some which may be fished either
way throughout the season; the angler's judgment de-
termining which, as wind, water, and sky suggest.
These, if inhabited by pike, are my particular favour-
ites, especially when the greater part of the shore
is so clear of weeds as to make one independent of a
boat.

Many people think a loch injured by pike: on the
contrary, unless very numerous, as in Loch Menteith, I
have seldom seen one much worth fishing without them ;
always excepting those where the Loch Awe trout or
gillaroo are to be found. If a man prefers killing eight
or nine dozen, with scarcely a half-pounder among them,
to a dozen fine trout from one to three pound weight, then
he may count the pike his enemy ; but the latter feat will
both better prove his skill and afford him much greater
sport. He who wishes to excel in angling, will leave
the loch with its tiny multitude to the bungler, and se-
lect the other, where all his science will be called into
play.

The reason why yellow trout are always large where
there are pike, is obvious : the small fry are all devoured
by the latter, and the others, having more food, increase
in size. A few years ago Loch Katrine was choke-full
of very small trout, which have gradually become larger

LOCH-FISHING. 59

since pike have been introduced ; and now, two or three
dozen fine red trout may be taken in a day.

There are two other small lochs, near Loch Katrine,
which breed very large pike, and are full of prime trout,
Loch Arklet and Loch Dronkie ; but less fortunate than
their neighbours in not having been immortalized by our
Great Minstrel : the latter especially, from its ill-sound-
ing name, we cannot wonder that a poet discards, but an
angler will find its attractions. The shores of these lochs
being almost clear of weeds, and the ground firm, the best
parts may be reached by wading, and fish taken from
half-a-pound to three pound weight. Upon one occasion,
when playing a good-sized trout in Loch Dronkie, an
enormous pike made several dashes, and at last succeeded
in seizing it. I used every effort to frighten him away ;
but so determined was he, that, though I could see him
quite plainly in shallow water, with my trout held across
his tremendous jaws, he would not be beat off; and at last
when, kicking the water, I strained my line, he gave a
plunge, broke my rod, and escaped with his prey.

FLY-FISHING.

The flies I have generally found best for loch-fishing
are a light speckled, or brown mottled mallard wing, ac-
cording to the day; reddish-brown mohair body, red
hackle, and No. 7 hook,- tied with yellow silk, for a trail;
and a teal-wing, claret-colour mohair body, black hackle,
and No. 6 hook, tied with orange or yellow silk, for a

60 LOCH-FISHING.

bob. If the loch is full and muddy, add a small thread
of silver tinsel to the latter, and increase the size of
both ; in large lochs, a green body is also very killing.
In fishing a loch where the trout are small, dimmish the
size of your hook; even in river-fishing, I seldom use
any but those I have named, only much smaller and
without the mohair; adding a hare's-ear body and
woodcock wing early in the season, and a mouse body
and snipe wing at a later period.

Should the loch you are fishing contain sea-trout or
salmon, ascertain, from any good fisher in the neigh-
bourhood, what are the most killing flies, and tie them for
yourself. Should you not be " up to this," beg, borrow,
or buy them from him. In fishing with a long line, from
a boat, let the trail be either a sea-trout or salmon-fly ;
but if throwing from shore, never use the latter except
by it^lf. A two-handed rod, large reel with plenty of
line, and the lightest tackle, are necessary.

If the wind is so high as to cause decided waves upon
one of these small lochs, you will succeed much better
with the minnow-tackle than the fly : indeed, the best
plan then is to troll for pike, with a par ; they always
take best in high wind, but are so capricious, that you
may have three runs in half-an-hour, and, perhaps, not
one in several apparently favourable days. High wind
is prejudicial to fly-fishing in lochs where the trout are
large, because it scatters them into unlikely places ; and
being, of course, much fewer in number than when small,

LOCH-FISHING. 61

you are not so apt to stumble upon them : the waves also
prevent their seeing the fly so readily.

When there is a fine even breeze, immediately repair
to the loch. Begin to fish those parts where the wind
blows fairest from the shore ; if you know the loch well,
you have a great advantage. The trout have many feed-
ing places, and shift from one to another with the slight-
est change of the wind. Near some one of these they
generally keep watching the breeze, which blows them
flies and insects. They are usually in companies ; so,
when the angler hooks one, he should endeavour to get
it away from the rest ; he will then most likely rise an-
other the next throw or two. He must keep a very sharp
look-out for these places, and may generally detect them
by the rising of the trout. They sometimes, but not so
often, feed singly.

When a fish takes the fly, raise your arm with a sort
of indescribable turn of the wrist: if this is done with a, jerk,
the fly is whipped away from the trout, but, if omitted
altogether, it will often make its escape, after feeling the
hook. It is for want of knack in this particular, that so
many trout are lost after having risen to the fly. When
you hook a good fish that never shows above water, but
swims low with a dead heavy pull, be very cautious ; it
is most likely tenderly hooked, and, with the least strain
upon the line, will break away.

The shore in many parts of the lochs is fringed
with weeds, beyond which you may cast by wading.

62 LOCH-FISHING.

Should you hook a trout in such a situation, and not find
an opening to lead it through, use every endeavour to
keep it from the weeds ; and when quite tired out, raise
its head above water, and tow it rapidly over them. If
you can reach beyond the weeds with your landing-net,
the difficulty in a great measure ceases.

When salmon or trout spring out of the water, you
may be sure that neither will be so apt to rise to yourfly,
whether in lochs or rivers.

THE MINNOW-TACKLE.

In fishing for trout with the minnow, I also prefer a mo-
derate breeze, unless in bright sunshine, when more wind
is necessary. Your tackle should be the very best single
gut, dyed with strong tea, or any thing to take the shine
off; a No. 13 hook, and two No. 8's tied back to back :
two swivels are enough, and no lead on the line. Any
one with the least knowledge of angling knows how to
bait. The large hook enters the minnow's mouth and is
brought out near the tail, which is curved in order to
make it spin ; one of the others is passed through its lips.
A fly-top makes the minnow spin more lively, and is
therefore preferable to a bait one — the rod-makers will
say the reverse. In river-fishing, another branch and
couple of small hooks fastened to the gut, and fixed in
the minnow's side, are often used ; but I do not recom-
mend them for the lochs.

The best, although most tedious way of casting, is to

LOCH-FISHING. 63

gather the line with your right hand, and, letting the
minnow hang down about a yard, throw it out, shifting
the rod at the same time from the left hand to the right ;
you can thus make further casts, and the minnow lasts
twice as long. If the wind is high, try all the sheltered
bays ; you may then often hook a fish where you would
otherwise have had little chance. Sink the minnow a
few inches below the surface, and when you see or feel a
bite, slacken your line a little ; when you strike, it must
be done with much more force than in fly-fishing.

When trolling from a boat, the less the breeze the
longer the line ; sink it with lead to a considerable depth.
In baiting, use a No. 9 hook through the minnow's lips,
and a 13 or 14 through the tail (vide cut). You thus

bait much more quickly, and the minnow's appearance
is not so apt to be injured; its tail can also be curved
up, more or less, to make it spin true. 'Thus baited, you
may troll with it from a boat for half a day ; but if you
attempt to cast, it will very soon be thrown off. Always
take with you two coarse trolling-rods, that you do not
mind sinking in the water, and very large reels with
plenty of line, or oiled cord, if you wish.

64 LOCH-FISHING.

Your boatman should be well acquainted with the
ground ; but if not, endeavour to troll between the shal-
low and the deep, where the trout are on the out-look.
Find out if there are any sunk rocks or banks, and troll
round them also. Always sweep past the mouths of any
rivers or brooks ; they are very likely places, either with
minnow or fly.

Troll as much as possible with the wind, although in

fly-fishing it is best to row against it. Take care, when

•
you hook a fish, that your boatman does not strain your

line in the former case, nor slacken it in the latter;
either of which he is apt to do, by lying upon his oars,
watching your proceedings. You must, in fact, direct
his slightest movement.

If the loch is frequented by salmon, have one of your
rods baited with a par ; and, if passing any of his haunts
near the shore, take your fly-rod, land, and throw from
it, but do not go near the place with the boat. Should
no fish rise, after you have thrown some time, take off
your fly, put on a large bait-hook, and two floats, one
about six yards from the other ; the line is thus prevented
from dangling near the hook, which must hang down
about four yards from the last float, baited with two
large dew-worms in the following manner: — Enter the
hook at the tail of one, and bring it out about one-fourth
of an inch below the head ; pull up the worm upon the
gut ; then put in the hook about one-fourth of an inch
below the head of the other, leaving the same length of

LOCH-FISHING. 65

worm at the point; this moves about, and entices the
salmon ; pull down the first worm to the other, and your
hook is baited, (vide cut.) When the float disappears, be

in no hurry to strike till the fish has tightened the line ;
you are thus pretty sure of its head being turned away,
and, consequently, have a better chance of hooking. This
should only be attempted where the shores are deep and
rocky, on a cloudy day, with a stiff breeze from the south
or west, and skiffs of rain. Do not give up hope too
soon, for the salmon are generally swimming in small
shoals backwards and forwards along the shore ; a little
time may thus elapse before they pass where you are
fishing.

In trolling with par for Loch Awe trout, salmon, or
the gillaroo, use double, or even triple gut, well dyed ;
a couple of swivels are quite enough, and a very heavy
lead. Bait in the same way as when trolling with min-
now from a boat, only the hooks must be considerably
larger to suit the par. Should the weather become calm,
you may often hook a large cunning fish by waiting till
dusk of evening, letting out a very long line, and sinking
your rod in the water, with the but against your shoulder.
The biggest fish are always on the search for food at this

E

66 LOCH-FISHING.

time ; and, perhaps, the most killing bait is a loach — also
excellent for large perch, some of which I have caught,
when trolling, upwards of three pound weight.

TROLLING FOR PIKE.

The common way of rod-fishing for pike in the High-
lands, is with a running-bait — a par, or small trout, and
plenty of hooks, tied back to back on gymp, stuck all
round it ; also a couple of large swivels, and the line a
little loaded with lead. They always take best mornings
and evenings, except on very windy days; so, if the
angler is inclined to try a cast for a pike, after having
filled his creel with trout, he may begin about six
o'clock.

THE GORGE-TROLL.

Trolling with the gorge is often very deadly in weedy
lochs, especially small openings that cannot be fished
with the running-bait. I have seldom, however, seen it
used in Scotland, except in a very clumsy way — a large
double hook, armed upon wire, with the bait inverted,
and no attempt to make it spin : unless pike are in a
very hungry mood, this is not very enticing. The pro-
per gorge-hook is a small double one, commonly used for
eels, with very sharp barbs, slightly turned inwards ; the
shank loaded with lead, in order to make the bait sink
quickly, and enable you to make far casts with precision.
This hook is fastened by a small brass ring to about a

LOCH-FISHING. 67

foot of gymp: (you require a baiting-needle :) after cut-
ting off the tail and all the fins but one of the topside
ones, hook on the loop of the gymp to the needle, and
insert it at the mouth of the bait, bringing it out at the
middle of the fork of the tail : the lead, and shank of
the hook, will thus be hid in the mouth and belly of the
bait, and only the barbs and points visible. Tie the tail
to the gymp with thread. (Vide cut.) After casting, let

the bait sink to the bottom, then draw it to the top, and
the single fin will make it spin beautifully. When a
pike seizes, you must not be in a hurry to strike, or you
have small chance of hooking: let out your line with
your hand, give him sufficient time to gorge the bait, and
then he is fast and firm as you could wish. Use a coarse
trolling-rod, with large strong rings, and reel of oiled
cord — no swivel is required. Some use a large gaudy
fly for pike ; I never do so, and do not recommend it, al-
though I have sometimes caught small pike even with a
common trout fly.

It is much more easy to find out the haunts of pike
than those of trout. The best places are in and near the
weedy bays. Fish all these with the running-bait, and if
possible, by wading, cast immediately beyond the weeds,

68 LOCH-FISHING.

between the shallow and the deep water ; this, however,
the sinking mud will often prevent your accomplishing.
If you have found the pike on the feed, you may return
over the same ground with the gorge, trying all the
openings among the weeds that you could not fish with
the running-bait. I never troll for pike from a boat, un-
less they cannot be reached any other way.

SET-LINES FOR PIKE.

Although rod-fishing for pike affords undoubtedly the
best sport, and requires much greater skill, yet by far the
most deadly way is with set-lines. This is either done
with a long line, and from twelve to twenty hooks, or
with single hooks, fixed to a bottle or other equally
buoyant float. I have also heard of tying baited hooks
to the legs of geese, and turning them adrift : when a
pike seizes the bait, the goose begins to flap its wings,
and there is often considerable sport in the struggle ; but
it is certainly a most cruel diversion, especially if a large
pike is hooked. The humane man will be more amused
with the float, which I have often practised with great
success.

After very tightly corking up the bottles, and
fastening the cord to them, let from five to eight feet
hang down, according to the depth of the water; fix a
large double pike-hook, armed upon brass wire, and
baited with a small perch, trout, roach, or frog to each :
be sure to cut off the perch's dorsal- fin and lower part

LOCH-FISHING. 69

of the gills. The baits are inverted, the barbs of the
hook projecting from their mouths. The best time for
this amusement is on one of those delicious evenings
with scarcely a breath of air, when the shadow of the
mountain becomes more imposing on the unrippled loch,
and twilight begins to steal over the scene. Let the hum
of the beetle be your warning bell.

Having arranged all your tackle, and baited your hooks,
place them regularly in a light two-oared boat, and row to
the weedy bay. You will now drop them one by one, about
twenty yards apart, outside the weeds, between the shal-
low and the deep. The pike have been basking all the
sultry day in the shallows, and are just emerging from
their green covering in search of food. The first object
that arrests their hungry eyes and craving stomachs is
your tantalizing bait, suspended at such a distance from
the surface as to excite no apprehension, and perfectly
still. With avidity it is seized and pouched ; down goes
the bottle : scarcely, perhaps, has it disappeared, when
another follows its example : it is nothing uncommon to
have four or five all bobbing up and down at the same
time. The sport now begins, the angler stretching to
his oars, first after one, then another, as they alternately
rise and sink. If large pike are hooked, they will often
keep their tormentor under water for a minute at a time ;
and to run the whole down is no contemptible evening's
exercise.

70 LOCH-FISHING.

THE LONG-LINE FOR PIKE.

In setting a long-line for pike, fix branches of small
whipcord to it, about a yard in length, and three yards
apart from each other; the same hooks, as described
above, appended to them, and baited in the same way.
The line is set in a like situation to the floats, in the
following manner : — After driving a pole into the mud,
fasten the end of your line to it. Your companion will
now row leisurely along, whilst you lift out hook after
hook, until you come to the end of the line ; having done
so, fix it to another pole, and drive this also into the
mud. Do not make the line too*" tau|fct," or it will not
hang low enough for the pike; no floats are required.
The line may remain all night, and has thus the morning
and evening chance.

EELS.

As lines for eels are, of course, set at the bottom, a
short description of the way to do so may be necessary.
Fasten a stone to the end of the line, to which also ap-
pend a branch with a float — the same at the other end —
the line thus lies flat upon the ground, the floats showing
exactly where. Eels may be set for in rather deeper
places than pike ; but be sure there is a soft muddy
bottom. Both hooks and baits must be a great deal less
than when setting for pike, the former armed upon strong
wire. Cut the fish, or whatever you bait with, into small

LOCH-FISHING. 71

pieces, just large enough to cover the hook, and fix them
firmly on. I recollect catching five or six beautiful eels
at one haul, with no other bait than two frogs ; the legs
set upon some of the hooks, like worm, and the bodies,
cut into several pieces, for the others. The drawing of
an eel-line, what with twisting and slime, is often sorry
work; if a large swivel was appended to each hook, it
would both tend to prevent this and increase the chance
of success. It is of little use to set single hooks for eels,
as the great likelihood is that the first that comes may
have a mouth too small for sucking in your hook, but
large enough to devour your bait ; in fact, there are twenty
small for one large; and from a line of three dozen
hooks, it is a very good night's work to kill half-a-dozen
large eels.

I have thus given an outline of the different
kinds of fishing in fresh-water lochs, except perch,
which float and worm recreation, as it has come under
the ban of Dr Johnson, I might leave the novice to find
out for himself. All he has to do is to ascertain their
haunt, which any one in the vicinity can show ; fasten a
float to his line, and a No. 10 hook — bait with an earth-
worm— throw in without art, and give the fish time to
gorge the bait before striking, or it may slip out of its
capacious mouth after being sucked in.

72 FISHING ON THE

FISHING ON THE SALT-WATER LOCHS.

THE sea loch has a character peculiarly its own — no
wooded islands, no green or pebbly margin, like its in-
land sister, except perhaps for a short time at full-tide;
and the dark mountain more often rises abruptly from
its side in craggy and bold relief. It is a novel sight for
the traveller, whom the refreshing evening breeze has
tempted out of the neighbouring inn, at the landlord's re-
commendation, to try his fishing luck with such a clumsy
rod and tackle as he had never dreamt of before. The awk-
ward-looking herring " skows," well-matched with their
black or red sails, scudding in all directions ; the nasal
twang of the Gaelic, as they pass the bow or stern of his
boat, shooting their nets ; the hardy, weatherbeaten face
of the Highlander, always civil in his reply, and courteous
in pointing out the most likely ground to the " stranger"
— reiterating his injunctions (when his stock of English
extends no further) " to keep on the broo" yet plainly
showing that he expects the like courtesy in return, and
that the least slip on your part would immediately make
him change his tone, — all this can hardly fail to im-
press on the mind of the imaginative, that the spirit of

SALT-WATER LOCHS. 73

the Highlands, though dormant, is not dead, and to carry
back his fancy to the old times of clans, catarans, and
claymores.*

The fishing of the sea-loch is not nearly so scientific
as that of the inland. The great art lies in being
thoroughly acquainted with the best state of the
tide for commencing operations — in having a perfect
knowledge of the fishing ground, and being able to set
your long line with neatness and despatch. Having
li ved for a cpuple of years on the banks of two sea-lochs,

* It is often amusing to see how easily the warm blood will boil,
even in those whom years and hardship might have cooled. The fol-
lowing characteristic instances occur to me : — A spruce young gen-
tleman and party of friends, in crossing a ferry, had only one boat-
man, nearly eighty years old, tugging away at both oars. The young
spark, who rather piqued himself upon his performance, offered to
relieve him of one. " Na, na," says old Donald, whose manner was the
extreme of respect, " ye'll no be accustomed to this wark." "Me !"
says the youngster, " I'll row any man in your country." The High-
lander instantly faced him with a look and tone of perfect equality —
" I've seen the day when ye wad hae been sair pushed!" The other
case was that of an old " grannie " in defence of her rights and
privileges : — An efficient and benevolent magistrate, who had been
very active in his endeavours to stop the progress of the cholera,
was inculcating the necessity of cleanliness. Grannie listened with a
sort of half-consenting air, which seemed to say — " we must submit
to all this for the good that's to come" — until he mentioned the
necessity of removing the dunghill from before the window. Her
Highland blood could not endure so audacious an inroad upon her
freedom : she determined to make a stand upon this odoriferous
ground, proverbial for inspiring pluck even into the craven. With
an attitude of defiance, and her fists firmly stuck in her sides, she
bawled out — "Deed, Major, ye may tak our lives, but ye'll no tak our
midden!.'"

74 FISHING ON THE

I had every opportunity (which I did not neglect) of
practising the different kinds of fishing, and making
myself master of the most propitious times of the tide
for doing so with success.

TROLLING FOR SEA-TROUT

may be ranked at the head of this fishing ; but, before
attempting to describe it, I shall mention two curious
facts, relative to the sea-trout and salmon, which it is
difficult to account for. One is, that the former will
take greedily in one loch, while you may troll a whole day
in its next neighbour, though full of them, without getting
a single bite. This was precisely the case in the two
lochs alluded to. The other, that, although you may
see the huge tails and back-fins of salmon rising all
round, I never heard of one taking the bait ; and during
the whole of my trolling in the salt water, I have only
killed one grilse. This is the more strange, as the sal-
mon is not at all shy of the spinning-bait in the fresh
water loch.

The best time to begin fishing for sea-trout is at the
turn of the tide, when it begins to ebb : the same rod
and tackle as when trolling from a boat in fresh
water. The herring-fry, salted, are the most killing
bait, (also excellent for large fish in fresh-water lochs,)
although minnows are very good : a sand-eel may also
do, the black skin pulled over the head, so as to show
nothing but the white body ; this shines very bright, but

SALT-WATER LOCHS. 75

as it does not spin, is far less deadly than the others. A
boatman who thoroughly knows the fishing-ground is
indispensable, as it is much more difficult to find out
than in the fresh water. Strong eddies, formed by the
tide, are often good places ; also any bays, especially if
mountain burns run into them. The largest size of sea-
trout are caught in this way ; and when hooked, from
the depth and strength of the water, make capital play.
Large lythe also are frequently taken: these are like
passionate boxers — fight furiously for a short time, after
which they are quite helpless.

If there is a good pool at the mouth of any moun-
tain burn, by going with your fly-rod during a " spait,"
or coming down of the water after heavy rain, and
when the tide is at the full) you may have excellent
sport. The trout are all floundering about, ready to
take your fly the moment it touches the water. This
only lasts for a short time, as they all leave the pool
at the receding of the tide. I say nothing of sea-
trout or salmon-flies, which vary so much in the different
lochs, rivers, and streams, that every angler should be able
to dress them for himself. Any fishing-tackle maker will
be happy to teach him for a consideration. He has then
only to learn from an approved hand near, what flies are
best for the loch or stream he intends to fish, and tie
them accordingly.

76 FISHING ON THE

THE LONG-LINE.

The eel-line, already noticed, is precisely the long-line
in miniature, with the exception of the hooks, which are
such coarse, blunt-looking weapons, that the wonder is
how they catch at all. They are sold for a mere trifle at
any of the shops in the sea-port towns, and tied on with
a wax end, but sometimes only with a knot of the twine
itself: a turn of the wire on the shank enables you to do
this. A baiting basket is required, one end for the line,
the other for the baited hooks, which are placed in regu-
lar rows. My line had only three hundred hooks, but
some have double that number. Herring, cut into small
pieces, are the best bait : I required about a dozen for
one setting. The best substitute for these are mussels;
but they drop off the*hook so easily, that when herring
can be procured they are seldom used. Seeing the long-
line baited, set, and drawn, will thoroughly teach any one
who has an idea of fishing — writing how to do so, never
will. It generally took me about an hour and a half to
bait mine ; so I taught a boy, who, after two or three les-
sons, could bait as well as myself.

The best time to set the long-line is after low water,
when the tide has flowed a little, and brought the
fish with it. To know the different " hauls"* is most

* Banks, and parts of the loch, where the shoals of fish frequent.

SALT-WATER LOCHS. 77

important, as your success, in a great measure, depends
upon the selection of a good one. After the line
is set, it should be left exactly one hour ; and, if you
have hit upon a shoal, you will most likely half-fill
the boat. I have several times killed about a dozen,
from twenty to fifty pound weight, besides quantities of
smaller. The fish for the most part taken are cod, ling,
haddock, skate, large flounders, and enormous conger-
eels, some .of the latter more than half the length of your
boat, and as thick as a man's leg. These would gene-
rally be thrown back again, were it not for the havoc
they make among the other fish, and the damage they do
to the set-lines. Their throats are, therefore, cut as
soon as they are pulled up, after which operation they
will live for hours. The skate is also very tenacious of
life ; and nothing can be more absurd than the grotesque,
pompous faces it will continue to exhibit for some time,
after being deposited in the boat. The round shape of
its jagged crown is exactly like a judge's wig; and when
it puffs out its cheeks, the whole face and head so
forcibly remind one of those learned lords, that you
almost fancy you hear it pronouncing sentence upon the
devoted congers. The conger, if dressed like other
fish, is uneatable; but when the oil is taken out, by
parboiling, some people prefer it to cod. Care should
be taken to untwist the line as much as possible when
drawing it, which saves a deal of trouble afterwards.
There is generally so much filth and discomfort in the

78 FISHING ON THE

whole business, that gentlemen seldom care to engage
in it, except a few times from curiosity.*

THE HAND-LINE.

When a boy, I used to be much delighted with the
hand-line, and never failed to practise it as oppor-
tunity offered. It is simply a piece of whalebone fas-
tened cross-wise to the line, and a hook at each end, tied
upon strong gut, with a heavy lead in the centre. This
lead sinks the line rapidly to the bottom, which it no
sooner touches than you feel it strike. You are thus
enabled to keep moving the hooks a yard or two up, and
then sink them to the ground again, which entices the
fish. All the art of the hand-line is to pull up the instant
you feel a bite, and never to slacken till the fish is safe
in the boat. Keep changing your ground, and dropping
your anchor, unless the fish seem taking. Mussels are
the best bait ; and it is a good plan to throw a few into
the water, as well as the empty shells.

* Thunder is generally believed to be destruction to fishing of all
kinds — and so it often is. I, however, know an instance, when a
friend of mine set his long-line just before a tremendous storm, which
raged the whole hour it was in the water. As soon as it cleared, he
rowed to his line, with no hope of success for that day : to his asto-
nishment it was perfectly loaded with heavy fish. Something similar
happened to myself, when going to fish the Almond, near Edinburgh.
I was overtaken by a thunder-storm when close to the river ; directly
upon its subsiding, I commenced fishing, and at the second or third
throw hooked a fine trout. After a few hours I returned home,
having had excellent sport.

SALT-WATER LOCHS. 79

Hand-line fishing may be followed at any time, but is
best at the flow of the tide. As the water retires, shift
your position further down the loch, and vice versa.
Almost every cottage on the banks can supply a hand-
line, and every inmate knows how to use it.

THE WHITE FEATHER.

To some highly facetious authors, a pun upon the
white feather might prove a prize, so I shall make them
a present of it instead of my readers, and proceed to its
dressing and use. Of all apologies for a fly, this is the
clumsiest ; it is only a swan's or goose's feather tied round
a large and very coarse bait-hook, without the least pre-
tence to art ; any man who had never dressed a fly in his
life, would be as successful in the attempt as the most
finished performer.* The rod and line are in perfect
keeping with the fly ; a bamboo cane, or young hazel
tree, with ten or twelve yards of oiled cord, and a length

* Worsted is occasionally used instead of the feather, and it is
sometimes a killing way to have a different colour for each rod — viz.
white for one, yellow for another, and red for a third. This last is best
for mackerel; and in some states of the water and sky, both lythe and
seithe, especially the former, prefer the yellow to the white. It is a
curious fact regarding the seithe, that when it grows old it changes
both its nature and appearance ; the colour is nearly black instead of
the rich green ; it grows to a great size, and gains a formidable set of
teeth. It is then called a stanlock, or black salmon, and is quite as
destructive to other fish as the conger-eel. In this stage it is never
known to rise to the fly, but it is occasionally taken by the hand or
long-line.

80 FISHING ON THE

or two of double or triple gut next the hook : no reel is
used.

The fish generally caught in this way are lythe and
seithe, although mackerel will rise freely also : when
fishing for the former, good double gut may be strong
enough, but if large fish are expected, I should always
recommend triple. Seithe take best in the morning
and evening, and a slight breeze is rather an advan-
tage: although the fly is sometimes sunk a little with
lead, it is more often fished with at the top. You may
begin at any state of the tide, and row over all the sunk
banks and places where the fish frequent, at a slow rate,
with three or four rods placed regularly in the stern of
the boat. When a small seithe is hooked, pull it in at
once, and out with the rod again as fast as possible :
sometimes nearly all the rods have a fish at the same
time. In lythe fishing you need not launch your boat
till low water ; sink the fly with a couple of buck-shot,
and troll on the brow, where it descends perpendicularly;
this is easily seen at that state of the tide. When you
hook a large fish, try to prevent it getting down, or you
may be obliged to throw the rod overboard, in case the
lythe should break away; but, if you can manage to
swing it about at the top for a short time, it will soon be
unable to offer any resistance.

Trolling with the white feather has this recommenda-
tion, that it may be enjoyed by an invalid or party of
ladies — and, certainly, a more delightful way of spending

SALT-WATER LOCHS. 81

the cool of a summer evening cannot be imagined —
rowing slowly along those romantic shores — hearing the
distant gurgle of the dwindled mountain brook in its
steep descent, and ever and anon passing the blue-curl-
ing smoke of a shepherd's or fisherman's grass-topped
cottage on the banks.

I have now, I think, given all the necessary instruc-
tions in fresh-water and sea-loch fishing ; and feel con-
fident, that by following them the admirer of " flood and
fell," even if a beginner in angling, may return from his
fishing tour, having as often filled his creel from their
depths as gratified his taste with their scenery.

82 ON EAGLES.

ON EAGLES.

FEW sportsmen, who have been much in the wilds of
Scotland, have not occasionally seen an eagle ; but, ex-
cept at the hatching season, it is extremely difficult to
get a shot at one. Even then it is no easy task, for the
nest is often in the face of some precipice which few dare
to scale.

The golden-eagle is not nearly so great a foe to the
farmer as to the sportsman; for although a pair, hav-
ing young ones, will occasionally pounce upon an un-
protected flock, and continue their depredations until
scared away, the more usual prey consists of hares, rab-
bits, and grouse : a fact sufficiently proved by the
feathers and bones found in their eyries. A pair used
to build every year in Balquhidder, another in Glen-
Ogle, and a third in Glenartney. The shepherds seldom
molested the old ones ; but by means of ladders, at con-
siderable risk, took the young and sold them. One of
these, brought to Callander, not long ago, when scarcely
full-fledged, would seize a live cat thrown to it for food, and,
bearing it away with the greatest ease, tear it to pieces :
the cat unable to offer any resistance, and uttering the
most horrid yells. From the havoc they made among

ON EAGLES. 83

the game, especially when they had young, the keepers
in the neighbourhood have been very diligent of late
years in searching out the eyries, and trapping the old
birds ; so that now, in this part of Perthshire, there is not
one for three nests that there were formerly.

I recollect, some time ago, an eyrie in Glen-Luss, where
a pair hatched yearly ; but since the female was shot, no
others have haunted the place. The shooting of this
eagle was a service of great danger, and the man who
undertook it a most hardy and determined fellow. The
cliff was nearly perpendicular, and the only way of access
was over the top, where a single false step would have
sent him headlong into the gulf below. After creeping
down a considerable way, he saw the eagle sitting on her
eggs, a long shot off; but his gun was loaded with swan-
shot, so, taking deliberate aim, he fired: she gave one
shrill scream, extended her wings, and died on her nest.
His greatest difficulty now was, how to avail himself of his
success. He was not, however, the man to be baulked :
so, at the most imminent risk, he managed to get to the
eyrie, tumbled the eagle over the cliff, and pocketed the
two eggs. They were set under a hen, but did not
hatch. Had they been left, the male would, probably,
have brought them out, as he has been often known to
do in similar cases. I afterwards broke one of the shells,
and was quite astonished at its thickness.

A fair shot may sometimes be got at the male when
there are young ones in the nest, as he will often swoop

84 ON EAGLES.

down in their defence — at any other time, he is the most
shy and wild of birds. I only know of one instance to
the contrary, and that was in the depth of a very severe
winter, when the creature was rendered desperate by
hunger. The gamekeeper of my late father was shooting
wild-fowl, and having killed one, sent his retriever to fetch
it out of the water. The dog was in the act of doing so,
when an eagle stooped down, and seizing him, endeavour-
ed to carry off the duck : it was only by shouting with
all his might, that the keeper could alarm the eagle so
far as to make it fly a little clear of the dog, when he
shot it with his second barrel. The scuffle took place
only twenty yards from where he stood, and he told me
that he thought the eagle would certainly have drowned
his dog.

When two eagles are in pursuit of a hare, they show
great tact — it is exactly as if two well-matched grey-
hounds were turning a hare — as one rises, the other de-
scends, until poor puss is tired out : when one of them
succeeds in catching her, it fixes a claw in her back, and
holds by the ground with the other, striking all the time
with its beak. I have several times seen eagles coursed
in the same way by carrion-crows and ravens, whose ter-
ritories they had invaded : the eagle generally seems to
have enough to do in keeping clear of his sable foes, and
every now and then gives a loud whistle or scream. If
the eagle is at all alarmed when in pursuit of his prey,
he instantly bears it off alive. Where alpine hares are

ON EAGLES. 85

plentiful, it is no unfrequent occurrence, when the sports-
man starts one, for an eagle to pounce down and carry it
off, struggling, with the greatest ease : in this case, he
always allows the hare to run a long way out of shot be-
fore he strikes, and is apt to miss altogether. When no
enemy is near, he generally adopts the more sure way of
tiring out his game.

The colour of the golden-eagle differs very much
some are so dark as almost to justify the name of " the
black eagle," which they are often called in the High-
lands— in others, the golden tint is very bright ; and many
are of an even muddy-brown. I do not think that the
age of the bird has any thing to do with this, as I have
seen young and old equally variable. The sure mark of
a young one, is the degree of white on the tail : the first
year the upper half is pure, which gradually becomes
less so by streaks of brown — about the third or fourth
year no white is to be seen.

THE SEA-EAGLE.

I have not had an opportunity of noticing the habits
of the sea-eagle, never having been for any time in the
neighbourhood of its haunts. All my information re-
garding them, is derived from watching one or two tame
ones which I met with in Ireland, where they are more
numerous than in Scotland, whose mountains are the
grand resort of the golden-eagle. The prey of both
seems pretty much alike, except that the sea-eagle is

86 ON EAGLES.

fonder of dead carcasses, which may in part account for
its partiality to the sea-shore. Those I allude to de-
voured crows, jackdaws, livers, fish, or almost any carrion
that was thrown to them. Their eyries are mostly in the
precipitous cliifs on the coast.

The sea-eagle is rather larger than the golden, and of
a lighter brown. The bill, which is longer and broader,
but not so hooked as the other, is of a dull yellowish
white. The whole of the tail-feathers of the young ones
are brown, when they gradually change to white, which
is complete about the fourth year — the very reverse of
the golden-eagle. The tail is also shorter, and the legs are
not feathered to the toes, like the other ; but quite enough
to show that the bird was not intended to subsist by fish-
ing, like the osprey, whose legs are bare to the thighs,
which have only a thin covering of short feathers.

THE OSPREY.

The osprey, or water-eagle, frequents many of the
Highland lochs ; a pair had their eyrie for many years on
the top of a ruin, in a small island on Loch Lomond. I
am sorry to say I was the means of their leaving that
haunt, which they had occupied for generations.

It was their custom, when a boat approached the island,
to come out and meet it, always keeping at a most respect-
ful distance, flying round in very wide circles until the
boat left the place, when, having escorted it a consider-
able way, they would return and settle on the ruin.

ON EAGLES. 87

Aware of their habit, I went, when a very young sports-
man, with a gamekeeper, and having concealed myself
behind the stump of an old tree, desired him to pull
away the boat. The ospreys, after following him the
usual distance, returned, and gradually narrowing their
circles, the female, at last, came within fair distance — I
fired, and shot her. Not content with this, the game-
keeper and I ascended the ruin, and finding nothing in
the nest but a large sea-trout, half-eaten, we set it in a
trap, and returning, after two or three hours, found the
male caught by the legs. They were a beautiful pair :
the female, as in most birds of prey, being considerably
the largest — the woodcut is a most correct likeness.
The eggs of these ospreys had been regularly taken
every year, and yet they never forsook their eyrie.
It was a beautiful sight to see them sail into our bay on
a calm summer night, and flying round it several times,
swoop down upon a good-sized pike, and bear it away as
if it had been a minnow.

I have been told, but cannot vouch for the truth of it,
that they have another method of taking their prey in
warm weather, when fish bask near the shore. They fix
one claw in a weed or bush, and strike the other into the
fish ; but I never saw them attempt any other mode of
" leistering" than that I have mentioned : when they see a
fish, they immediately settle in the air — lower their flight,
and settle again — then strike down like a dart. They
always seize prey with their claws, the outer toes of which

88 ON EAGLES.

turn round a considerable way, which gives them a larger
and firmer grasp. Owls have also this power, to enable
them with greater certainty to secure their almost equally
agile victims ; while the fern-owl has the toe turned round
like a parrot, to assist it in the difficult task of catching
insects in the air. But if this were the case with the
others, although it might be an advantage in the first
instance, it would very considerably weaken their hold
when prey was struck.

I remember seeing another pair of ospreys on Loch
Menteith, that had their eyrie on the gnarled branch
of an old tree. They became so accustomed to the
man who lets boats there, that the female never even
left her nest when he landed on the island, unless a
stranger was with him. Once, when he returned home
after a short absence, he saw one of them sitting on the
tree, making a kind of wailing cry : suspecting all was
not right, he rowed to the island, and found the female
was missing, and the nest harried. They have never
hatched there since : the male has been frequently seen,
but he has never found another mate. When they had
young, they did not confine their depredations to Loch
Menteith, but used to go, in quest of prey, to the other
lochs in the neighbourhood ; and, in the evening, would
fly down the glen, carrying a fish a foot long in their
claws.

The nest of the osprey is lined with coarse water-
plants and grasses : the outside fenced with thick boughs.

ON EAGLES. 89

some of them four inches round, and three feet and a-half
long : proof enough of the strength of its legs and wings.
The eggs are as large as a hen's, with reddish-brown spots.
The osprey is about the size of the herring-gull; the
breast nearly white, spotted with brown ; back and wings
dull-brown; the thighs very muscular; legs and claws,
which are of bluish flesh colour, equally so.

90 THE KITE,

THE KITE.

ALTHOUGH abounding in the mountainous regions of
Scotland, the kite is not confined to them : I have fre-
quently met with it in the Lowlands, and it is common
in Wales. To look at the elegance of its form and the
grace of its movements, the keenness of its eye, the
strength of its wings, and the aptitude of its claws for
seizing prey, one would suppose the kite to be a very
mischievous bird ; but none of the hawk tribe are less so :
even the buzzard, albeit no great adept, is much its su-
perior in the art of destruction. The kite has no quick-
ness of flight, yet is admirably fitted for his mode of life.
Subsisting in a great measure on carrion and reptiles, his
keen eye and unwearied wing are of the greatest service
in discovering his food. Fish, when he can get it, he
considers a dainty morsel, and may be most successfully
trapped with this bait. I found out his weak point, by
noticing the avidity with which he would devour the re-
fuse of the net the day after a draught. I have watched
him with delight, sailing aloft with such perfect ease,
that the only perceptible motion was that of his tail,

THE KITE. 91

piloting him like a helm in his aerial circles — scrutinizing,
with his telescopic eye, every field and valley where he
might hope to find a prey, and then, suddenly lowering
his flight and lessening his circles, gradually alight upon
some object, so small that it seemed scarcely possible he
could have seen it from such a height.

Indeed, were the sight of the blue falcon and hen-
harrier equal to that of the kite, their havoc upon our
moors would be much greater than it now is ; but their
manner of seeking food is quite a contrast to his. In
beating the ground for prey, they, especially the latter,
seldom rise higher than twenty yards ; but, when once it
is sprung, their activity in pursuit is unrivalled. Per-
haps I may here be excused for digressing, so far as
to mention an anecdote of the blue or peregrine falcon,
showing that it will beat game out of the heather, and
destroy it on the ground : many, I know, suppose it
never strikes but on wing. When out breaking a young
dog upon the Perthshire moors, I put up a grouse,
which, after flying some distance, was pursued by a blue
falcon. The poor grouse, seeing it had no chance,
dropped down in the heather; but it was too late, the
hawk was directly above. It immediately alighted, beat
about the heather for a minute, and presently the grouse
fluttered out before it. I saw the chase for about ten
yards, when they ran behind a hillock, and on my going
up to the place, the falcon rose, and there lay the grouse
decapitated.

92

THE KITE.

But, to return to the kite — he is the shiest of birds ;
not even in the hatching season can you often get a shot
at him. I have frequently found the nests : they are
much like the carrion-crow's, only larger and more im-
pervious. They are lined with whatever the birds can
pick up — old stockings, worsted gloves, or any thing
soft and warm. There are seldom more than three eggs,
often only a couple. Kites generally build in the pine
forests on the hills and select a tree, with a thin bare
stem, often very difficult to climb. I once concealed
myself at the foot of a tree where a kite was hatching, in
order to shoot it on its return to the nest — for they
generally fly off at the most distant approach of an
enemy. I was perfectly hid ; and, after waiting nearly
an hour, had an opportunity of witnessing the tact and
cunning of the bird. The sun was shining warm upon
the nest, or it would, most likely, not have kept me so
long; at last I saw it flying round in very wide circles,
which gradually narrowed : it then lighted upon a distant
tree, and peering round in every direction, chose a nearer;
and so on, until it came within three or four trees of the
nest. It was now within shot; but I had, unfortunately,
so placed myself as only to command the nest-tree, never
doubting that it would light on this before it settled upon
the nest- — but I was out in my reckoning; as soon as it
had tolerably re-assured itself, it rose perpendicularly in
the air, and came down upon its nest like a stone. The
manner in which I was concealed prevented my getting

THE KITE. 93

a flying shot ; so nothing remained but to fire through
the nest, which proved a sufficient defence, as the kite
flew away, and never returned. A few days after, I
climbed the tree with some difficulty, and took two eggs,
about the size of a hen's, with dusky-red spots.

94 THE ALPINE OR WHITE HARE.

THE ALPINE OR WHITE HARE.

THE white hare inhabits many of our mountains. It is
not confined, like the ptarmigan, to the tops of the highest
and most inaccessible, but, on the contrary, is often met
with on grouse-shooting ranges, where there are few
crags or rocks to be seen. I have frequently shot it on
flats, between the hills, where it had made its form like
the common hare ; and, though I have more often moved
it in rocky places — where it sometimes has its seat a
considerable way under a stone — I do not think it ever
burrows among them, as some suppose; for, although
hard pressed, I have never seen it attempt to shelter
itself, like a rabbit, in that way. Indeed, there would
be little occasion for this, as its speed is scarcely infe-
rior to the hares of the wood or plain, and it evidently
possesses more cunning. When first started, instead of
running heedlessly forward, it makes a few corky bounds,
then stops to listen — moving its ears about : and, if the
danger is urgent, darts off at full speed, always with the
settled purpose of reaching some high hill or craggy
ravine. If not pressed, it springs along as if for amuse-
ment ; but takes care never to give its enemy an advan-
tage by loitering.

THE ALPINE OR WHITE HARE. 95

I put up one, on the 16th of last March, when
inspecting the heather-burning on my moor, which (con-
trary to their usual practice) kept watching, and allowed
me, several times, to come within a hundred yards. I
was at first surprised, but the explanation soon occurred
to me, that it had young ones in the heather. I had thus
a good opportunity of noticing the commencement of its
change of colour. The head was quite grey, and the
back nearly so ; which parts are the last to lose, as well
as the first to put on the summer dress. I shot one
nearly in the same stage, on the 22d of last November.
The only difference was, that the whole coat of the for-
mer appeared less pure. This is easily accounted for, as
in winter the creature, though receiving a fresh acces-
sion of hair, loses none of the old, which also becomes
white; whereas in spring it casts it all, like other
animals. Thus, by a merciful provision, its winter
covering is doubly thick ; while at the same time, being
the colour of snow, (with which our hills are generally
whitened at that time of year,) it can more easily elude
its numerous foes. The same remark applies to the
ptarmigan.

During a mild winter, when the ground is free from
snow, the white hare invariably chooses the thickest patch
of heather it can find, as if aware of its conspicuous ap-
pearance; and to beat all the bushy tufts on the side
and at the foot of rocky hills, at such a time, affords the
best chance of a shot. The purity, or dinginesss of its

96 THE ALPINE OR WHITE HARE.

colour, is a true criterion of the severity or mildness of
the season. If the winter is open, I have always re-
marked that the back and lower part of the ears, retain
a shade of the fawn-colour ; if, on the contrary, there is
much frost and snow, the whole fur of the hare is very
bright and silvery, with scarcely a tint of brown. When
started from its form, I have constantly observed that it
never returns, evidently knowing that its refuge has been
discovered. It will sometimes burrow in the snow, in
order to scrape for food, and avoid the cold wind, as well
as for security. These burrows are not easily discovered
by an unaccustomed eye; the hare runs round the
place several times, which completely puzzles an ob-
server, and then makes a bound over, without leaving
any footmark to detect her retreat. It is hollowed out,
like a mine, by the hare's scraping and breath, and the
herbage beneath nibbled bare.

The alpine hare is a good deal less than the common
— shorter, and" stouter made for its size — its legs
stronger, for climbing in rocky places, and its claws
more blunt. Its colour, in summer, is a kind of light
fawn, and in winter the tips of the ears, which are
much shorter than those of the common species, are jet
black.

PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING. 97

PTARMIGAN SHOOTING.

IT is worth while to make an excursion to the rocky
haunts of the ptarmigan, if only for the splendid views
they command, and the strange novelty of the scene.
Ben-Lomond, Ben- Vein, Ben-Voirla, and, indeed, all
that lofty range in the west, are inhabited by these
solitary denizens of the mountain-top. Except for this
additional motive, however, not many sportsmen would
be tempted to ascend them, for the chance of the few
shots they would be likely to obtain. Some of the
mountains of Ross-shire and Inverness-shire are far easier
of access, and the birds much more numerous : as many
as ten or twelve brace may there be bagged in a day.
Not having had the good fortune to shoot upon them, I
can only speak from my experience in the West High-
lands. The sportsman who climbs any of the mountains
I have named, and falls in with the ptarmigan, cannot
fail to observe how well it harmonizes with the scene.
Perched upon a ledge of the shelving rock, which it
nearly resembles in colour, its wild look seems in con-
trast with the little dread it shows at the sight of man,
who so seldom disturbs its craggy abode. They are even
so stupid, that if stones are thrown over the pack, they
will sometimes crouch down, in dread of their more

98 PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING.

common enemy, the hawk ; and, bewildered at the sound
of the gun, suffer themselves to be massacred one by one.
This experiment, however, more often fails, when they
all take wing together at the first stone ; and, far from
being so slow as many suppose, they are quite as rapid
in the air, or even more so than grouse : they will also
sometimes take as long flights, although their more
common way is to fly round the angle of a rock or
precipice, and immediately drop down.

I cannot better describe ptarmigan-shooting than by
giving an account of the first day I ever enjoyed this
sport, of which I have a most perfect recollection, and
also of my last expedition, in company with an English
friend, a short time ago.

When fresh from school, the first year I took out a
license I went on a grouse-shooting excursion soon after
the 12th of August. Having slept at the nearest farm-
house to the ground, I started at daybreak for the base
of " the mighty " Ben- Voirla, where, I had been told,
grouse were plentiful that year. My guide was the
game-preserver, a reclaimed poacher, who had as quick
an eye for a hare sitting, or a ptarmigan among the
rocks, as ever peered from under a shaggy brow. After
about three miles' very rough walking, we reached our
destination. With eager hope I uncoupled my dogs,
who soon came to a dead point ; off went both barrels —
it certainly was missing in good style ! — not even a
feather dropped, to hang a peg upon for the exercise of

PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING. 99

my companion's ingenuity. All the excuse that his wit
or wisdom could frame was — " You've made them leave
that, at ony rate ! " After two or three equally successful
points, I began to wish myself well . out of it ; and,
looking up to the stupendous mountain, asked if there
was any chance of finding ptarmigan should we climb it.
Having small hopes of my performance on wing, and
knowing, from experience, that a sitting shot might thus
"be obtained, he caught at the plan, and we commenced
our steep and toilsome ascent. An hour and a half
brought us to the first shoulder of the hill, when all of a
sudden he stopped, eagerness in every feature, and,
pointing in the direction of a large rock, said — " If it
was na that I thocht it too low, I would tak my oath
that thing on the tap o' the rock is a ptarmigan." I
now walked first, and, ducking down into a ravine, came
out about sixty yards from our object. Immediately
it took wing, and my gun was at the same moment
discharged, with, I must confess, scarcely an attempt at
aim. To my inexpressible delight, the bird dropped.
Heedless of spoiling my dogs, I rushed up, and seized
my prize. After carefully wrapping its broken wing
in tow, to prevent the blood from soiling the feathers,
and giving it in charge to my sharp-sighted friend, I
proceeded for a fresh search.

My utmost hope now was to make out the brace, but we
toiled to the top of the mountain without seeing another
bird. I had sufficient opportunity to admire the care

100 PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING.

and skill with which my guide scrutinized every likely
spot ; passing over the hanging cliffs, by which we were
surrounded, with a very superficial glance, he directed
his chief attention to the cairns, or heaps of rock and
stone scattered jaggedly about. All at once I felt his
vice-like grasp upon my shoulder, the other hand point-
ing to one of these cairns, not twenty yards off. I
strained my eyes to the utmost, but could see nothing,
save the dull gray rock. His impatience grew extreme,
and vented itself in loud whispers — " Shoot him sitting !"
At last I caught sight of the bird, its head and tail
carried low, and colour so like the jutting rock, that it
might well have been taken for one of the points — none
but an accustomed eye could possibly have discovered
it. With eagerness and trepidation my gun was raised —
off went the shot — up went the ptarmigan with a hoarse
croak — a fine cock ! My second barrel followed the
example of the first. The bird flew rapidly round the
precipice, and with it my last lingering hope ! I saw
the difficulty of finding them, and despaired of hitting
even when found. So we retraced our steps with my
solitary bird, which happily served to stop minute
enquiries about the day's sport.

Many years elapsed before I again visited Ben- Voirla,
but in that time I had taken a leaf out of my instruc-
tor's book, and could also trust myself not to throw a
chance away when the birds were discovered. I was
now accompanied by a friend from the South, a very

PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING. 101

good shot, and particularly anxious to see and bring
down a ptarmigan.

When we got to the foot of Ben- Voirla, we found that
there were two packs on what is called the second top,
and were thus saved the trouble of scaling the highest.
So, taking two young farmers as guides, we reached the
ground after a stiff climb. On ranging one side of the
mountain, just as we were turning round to the other, the
dogs ran into a small pack, which jerked round an angle
and were out of sight in a moment. I knew their flight
would probably be a short one, so began to look about
with the utmost caution : my friend, quite a novice in
this sport, had no idea of finding the game himself, and
continued to hunt the dogs with great assiduity. We
happened to be pretty near together, when they again
" poked up" a ptarmigan. Neither of us thought of
each other, or the ordinary rules of shooting, but fired
at once, and down came the bird. This was rather un-
satisfactory, as the " honour and glory " belonged to
neither; however, we determined it should not happen
again. I described what places the birds were most
likely to haunt, and cautioned against trusting to the
dogs, which were quite unaccustomed to such ground;
but finding my companion preferred his own plan, I left
him, and commenced my slow and wary search. At last
I caught sight of a ptarmigan upon the very ridge of the
hill, about thirty yards above me. It was in the same
crouching attitude before described, and, had I attempted

102 PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING.

to put it up, would have dipped out of my sight in an
instant. I was therefore obliged to shoot it sitting;
but the moment I fired, another flew straight over my
head, his hoarse croak proclaiming the cock of the
pack ! I had a fair shot, and down he dropped. The
first I killed being a hen, they made a capital pair for
my collection.

I was now very anxious my brother-sportsman should
have a good chance ; so, joining company, we scruti-
nized the ground on every side, without success ; only
one bird was put up out of all distance, which my friend
determined to follow. So, agreeing to meet at the foot
of the hill, we took different ranges. Fortune again
declared in my favour; for, just as I was scrambling
with hand and knee up a steep precipice, a pack of four
rose upon the very top, and flew into mid air, just giving
me time to steady myself, cock my gun, and get a distant
shot, when one of them dropped into the gulf below. I
sent my guide to fetch it, which he acccomplished with
some difficulty ; and then dispatched him in quest of my
less successful companion, with the injunction that, if he
joined in pursuit of my game, the odds would be three to
one in his favour.

I had scarcely got to the peak, where I thought it
most probable my three fugitives would again take re-
fuge, when I was overtaken by one of those bitter hail
showers which often fall on the mountains in early
autumn ; so, placing my gun in its waterproof cover, and

PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING. 103

my back, Fitz-James-like, against a rock, I impatiently
hoped for the cessation of the storm. Scarcely had it
begun to abate, when an alpine hare came curtsying
past about eighty yards from my shelter, and then seated
herself with equal grace, as tempting a mark for a rifle
as could possibly be placed. It was not to be resisted
even with my small shot. So, slowly uncasing my gun,
and taking deadly aim, I fired. Puss gave an active
bound at this unlooked-for attack, and took her leave
with far less ceremony than she made her entree.

I had just reloaded, when my guide appeared with a
breathless malediction on my gun. He had seen my
friend going down the mountain, but quite beyond re-
call, and, when returning to me, had stumbled on the
ptarmigan, most conspicuously perched on the top of a
rock. He was in the act of taking his marks to know
the place again, in the hope of finding me, when my
shot abruptly put an end to his schemes. The birds
were equally dissatisfied with the sound as their four-
footed ally of the crags, and made the same use of their
wings that she did of her legs. It was now late, but as
the man had some idea of where they might be, I could
not resist the temptation of giving them one more trial.
We had almost given up hope, when they a third time
rose, very wild, fully a hundred yards off, from a knoll
of moss where they were at feed. My time was now
" up," so I descended the mountain well pleased with
my day's sport, notwithstanding the mishap at the end.

104 PTARMIGAN-SHOOTING.

The ptarmigan, I believe, has never been tamed. It
subsists on the rock-plants, mosses, and berries, upon
which it is curious to see a pack feeding like grouse on
young heather. The plumage begins to change colour
in October, when the bird gains a double set of feathers
for winter. In spring all these drop off, and it again
assumes the colour of the rocks.

The woodcut represents a ptarmigan in its common
attitude, cowering under shelter of a stone ; the other is
perched upon the top of a rock, an equally characteristic
situation

X

THE SPIRIT OF GLENCROE, 105

THE SPIRIT OF GLENCROE.

WHO has not heard of the Pass of Glencroe? The
hills rising perpendicularly on both sides, gray to the
top with immense masses of rock, that look as if an in-
fant's touch would roll them from their insecure basis.
It was my hap to live for a summer close to this savage
gorge. When the weather was dull and rainy, and the
clouds hung low upon the mountain-tops, the frowning
grandeur of the scene could scarcely fail to depress the
most buoyant spirits ; and even when the day was fine
and clear, a feeling of awe at least was inspired.

When I first came to the neighbourhood of Glencroe
it was in early summer, and, of course, the Scotch mists
were thick and frequent ; but, overlooking the greater
angling attractions of Loch-Lomond and its neighbouring
streams, I generally took advantage of the fine days to
wander, fishing-rod in hand, up this lonely and favourite
haunt, to the little moor loch at its head.

The " Lochan Rest," so called from being close to
the top of the glen, where a stone is set up with the

106 THE SPIRIT OF GLENCROE.

well-known inscription, reminding the weary wayfarer
to " rest and be thankful," does not hold out many in-
ducements for fishing. The trout, although well fed,
and of a very uncommon colour, are not large ; and it is
most probable that the "lochan," but for its situation,
would have been seldom visited by me. After loitering
up the glen, where was nothing to relieve the dreariness
of the scene but the plaided shepherd, accompanied by
his uncouth half wild-looking dog, I generally spent an
hour or two in filling my creel, and then slowly retraced
my steps. The lochan was immediately under one of
the most stupendous precipices in the pass, round the
base of which the angler must try his casts.

In desolate regions like this, where the silence is only
interrupted by the hoarse croak of the raven, or some
other equally wild inhabitant of the mountains, the
slightest sound, which otherwise might pass unheeded,
will often arrest the attention. Such was the case with
me on my first excursion to Lochan Rest. While screw-
ing together my fishing-rod, I heard a low and peculiar
whistle from the precipice above. Fancying it might be
some shepherd, I took little notice; but as the same
strange call was repeated at intervals during the whole
time I was fishing, my curiosity was somewhat excited ;
I strained my eyes along the crags in every direction,
but nothing was to be seen.

A few days after I again slung my fishing-basket on
my shoulder for Lochan Rest, and I must confess that

THE SPIRIT OF GLENCROE. 107

the invisible tenant of the cliff had some share in attract-
ing me back so soon. Scarcely had I wet my line when
I heard the mysterious whistle, which continued as be-
fore until I left the loch. I tried to ascertain the exact
spot from whence the sound proceeded, but was only the
more baffled, as I had no doubt it was from a perpen-
dicular and totally inaccessible rock. At last I became
so accustomed to it, that I should as soon have expected
to miss the trout from the loch as this wild note from
the hill.

Summer was now advancing, and several engagements
prevented my returning to the Lochan during my resi-
dence in the neighbourhood ; but about the same season
two years after, when showing a friend some of our High-
land scenery, amongst other places I took him to Glen-
croe, and, in walking past the little loch, I almost started
when I heard the well-remembered whistle ! I had be-
fore given up hope of finding out the cause, and it had
even occurred to me that it might possibly be some echo
occasioned by the wind among the rocks. With this
absurd solution I was fain to rest satisfied; and it was
only last spring, when passing a steep and craggy hill in
Perthshire, that the true one was discovered. A small
bird flew out before me, and, perching on a detached
piece of rock, struck up its wild pecuh'ar note. It was
the Spirit of Glencroe ! With cautious steps I wound
round the crag to get a nearer view of the bird, when I
caught sight of its white breast, and, immediately de-

108 THE SPIRIT OF GLENCROE.

tecting the rock-ousel, felt sorry that my charm was dis-
solved.

I had once or twice in spring met with the rock-ousel
on the moors, but had never heard it make any call be-
yond a harsh grating chirp.

The little incident mentioned above gave rise to the
following stanzas, which I may be excused for in-
serting : —

THE heather-bell was blooming fair,
And gaily waved the yellow broom,

And many a wild-flow'r bright and rare
Lent to the breeze its choice perfume.

But lonely, lonely was the scene,

Grim rose the heights of dark Glencroe,

And, though the sunbeam smiled between,
They scarce return'd a kindlier glow.

Above me frown'd the jutting rock,
The wimpling burn beside me play'd ;

Around me stared the mountain flock,

And ask'd — " Who dared their rights invade ? "

THE SPIRIT OF GLENCROE. 109

A whistle strikes my startled ear !

A pipe of shrillest, wildest tone ;
But human footstep, far or near,

None could I see — I stood alone !

Still and anon, with every breeze,

I caught that sound so strangely wild ;

And who may tell what visions please
The wayward mood of Fancy's child ?

Oft I returned, when skies were fair,

To ply my fisher's task below,
And long the viewless tenant there

I named the Spirit of Glencroe !

Once more this thrilling call I heard,

As far I climb'd the misty hill;
Then past me flew a little bird,

With that same note so wild and shrill !

Spirit I deem'd it long, and still,
With its white breast and airy form,

It sat like spirit of the hill,

Above the cloud, and mist, and storm !

There is a stone which marks Glencroe,
To weary travelers known the best ;

It bids them, ere they further go,
Tarry awhile by Lochan-Rest.

110 THE SPIRIT OF GLENCROE.

Hast thou no message, herald lone,
Perch'd on thy lofty turret-brow ?

" Rest and be thankful," says the stone,
Bird of the rocks ! what sayest thou ?

" Rest to the weary — rest for men —

Through earth's dark pass worn wand'rers they-

Rest is the spirit of our Glen,
But ah ! that rest lies far away !

" 'Tis far away, 'tis far away !

Above my watch-tow'r lift your eyes ;
Rest, weary wand'rers, rest ye may,

But rest not till ye reach the skies !"

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

TRAPPING THE ONLY EFFECTUAL WAY TO
DESTROY VERMIN.

I HAVE put together the following directions for the trapping
of vermin, in order that gentlemen may judge of the merits
of their keepers in this respect ; being well aware how few
have any thing like a perfect knowledge of this most neces-
sary part of their business. No moors or manors can abound
with game unless the vermin are killed off ; and if the traps
are not set with much skill, and the places for planting them
for the different kinds of vermin selected with great judg-
ment, more harm than good is done, as few are caught and
the rest put on their guard, and thus rendered more cunning
and difficult to be trapped afterwards.

A gentleman should first ascertain if his keeper can per-
form the mere manual act of setting a trap. This must be
done by cutting a shape for it with a mole-spade in the turf,
thinly sprinkling the plate with earth, and then a top cover-
ing precisely the same as the ground : when set, it should be

114 TRAPPING THE ONLY EFFECTUAL

neither higher nor lower. After having satisfied himself of
the neatness of the setting, the gentleman may spring the
trap, and if it closes clear of grass or leaves, he may rest
satisfied that his keeper knows the A B C of vermin-killing.
If, on the contrary, a quantity of the top dressing is caught
between the jaws of the trap, the keeper is not fit to set for
vermin, and must be made thoroughly master of this first
requisite before he attempts to do so.

I shall now mention the different kinds of four-footed and
then winged vermin, giving minute instructions how each
may be most readily trapped. Foxes are the most cunning,
and consequently most difficult to be taken. The best time
to set for them is from the beginning of January — when the
males follow the females — till March. Their haunts may
then often be discovered by their wild peculiar bark. Any
clear open space near them, with a hollow in the middle, is
the place to plant traps. The hollow is necessary, as the
fox always likes to be out of sight when he is eating. The
bait is a piece of hare, rabbit, or the entrails of any animal,
covered over slightly with earth; and half-a-dozen traps are
set round with the utmost care. Fewer will not do, as the fox
might escape between. The bait is covered over in order to
make Reynard suppose that another fox or dog may have
buried it there. Some drag it along the ground for a con-
siderable distance on either side, after first rubbing it on the
soles of their shoes, and letting fall little pieces of cheese at
intervals : this can do no harm, but I think as little good.

The circle of twigs is also a very good way of trapping
foxes all the year. It should be made larger than for martins

WAY TO DESTROY VERMIN. 115

or cats, in order to contain more bait — this should be added
to without being removed when it taints, as the greater the
scent the better the chance. Traps set for foxes should never
be made fast, or they are apt to gnaw the leg off: the best
plan is to tie two or three together ; for if the fox can drag
them, however great the difficulty, he will not attempt the
desperate remedy of amputating his leg. When they have
litters, the old ones may be taken ; but it requires great
judgment to select the spot they would be most likely to walk
over in going to and from their young : a first-rate trapper,
however, will generally secure one or both. It is the more
difficult, as the traps must be set at some distance, or the
young ones would be apt to stumble into them. As only
single traps are set, they should be tied to a stone just large
enough for the fox to drag with some trouble. The keeper
should always sprinkle a little water over the top covering of
the trap to take off the scent of his fingers.

I do not give publicity to these modes of destroying foxes,
with any design to their being followed in the Lowlands,
where the gentlemen of the " View halloo !" would give me
small thanks. I only write for the preservation of the High-
land game and lambs ; and am sure that if my plan was
vigorously followed up, we should not be infested with half
so many foxes as we are, " fox-hunter " and all ! This, I
believe it never will be, the fun of a Highland fox-hunt being
so popular among the farmers as to overbalance the merits of
any other system requiring trouble, dexterity, and patience.*

* I lately saw in the newspapers a plan for extirpating foxes in the Highlands.
Each hill farmer was to keep a couple of fox-hounds, a good greyhound, besides

116 TRAPPING THE ONLY EFFECTUAL,

Cats, martins, and fowmartes are easily trapped. Plant a
circle of twigs about three yards round, the twigs a foot and
a half long and close to each other, placing the same bait as
for a fox in the centre, but without any covering ; leave two
openings at opposite sides just large enough for the trap.
You may also set with baits hanging on the stem of a tree —
a few twigs placed on either side to prevent the vermin
sneaking in there, and so carrying off the bait. Box-traps
are very good for stoats or weasels, but as they are gener-
ally set in the low grounds, where pole-cats also abound, I
prefer an iron rat-trap with a strong spring ; having found
that the fowmarte constantly pushed up the lid of the other,
and so escaped. The rat-trap will hold a pole-cat, and do
little or no injury to cattle or dogs. The bait should be
hung upon a twig immediately above, and almost out of
reach of the weasels.

Stoats, and especially weasels, are often seen in great
abundance in summer. They may then be very easily shot,
as you have only to imitate the squeak of a mouse to bring
them close to you. I once, when without a gun, decoyed one
so far away from its retreat that I killed it with my stick.
Should the keeper see a weasel, all he has to do is, with as
much speed as possible, to cut a small piece from any of his

terriers. When occasion offered, they were to join packs, and collect the best shots
(alias, the greatest poachers) in the neighbourhood. I can only say, without in the
least impugning the motives or honesty of intention of the projector, that if the
Highland proprietors suffer a gang of this kind to take the hill at pleasure, they will
soon hardly have a head of game on their estates. As to allowing farmers to keep
greyhounds, terriers, &c., no gentleman who sets any value on his grouse or hares
would ever think of it.

WAY TO DESTROY VERMIN. 117

baits, drag it along the ground where he last saw the weasel,
and hang it on a twig with his rat-trap under, as before de-
scribed : if he does not let too long time elapse, it is sure to
be taken. No traps should be set for running vermin during
the warm weather, as the bait so soon taints — nor in hard
frost, as the traps are then apt not to spring, or to hold the
vermin so slightly that they escape.

WINGED VERMIN.

The hawk tribe, seldom or never taking a bait, are the
most difficult to be trapped of all winged vermin. The only
plan with any chance of success (except at the breeding time)
is to place a trap on the top of a wall, or bare stump of a
tree, throwing a dead cat or other carrion at the foot ; the
hawks will often alight, to look down at it, and thus be
caught. A hawk, however, will always return to any bird
he has killed, even should scarcely any thing be left but the
bones. In such a case, immediately procure a trap, hang
the bird directly above, and close to it, or the hawk may
reach over and take it down without touching the trap.

But when they hatch is the time thoroughly to thin
them. The nests should be most carefully searched out, and
not disturbed until the young are more than half fledged.
Many shoot the old hen flying off her eggs, but this is not
the way to extirpate the race, as the males of course escape.
When the young are pretty strong, and able to call loudly
from hunger, take them put of the nest, and make two circles
out of sight of each other. These circles must not be artifi-

118 TKAPPING THE ONLY EFFECTUAL

cial or formed of twigs stuck in the ground, but any bushes
of furze, heather, or rushes, must be taken advantage of for
the purpose. Half of the young ones must be tied in the
one, and half in the other. They must have very short
tethers, or they will waddle into the trap. If this is well
executed, you are sure of both old ones next day.

Buzzards and kites are easily trapped in autumn or winter,
as they readily take a bait. It is not worth while to take
much trouble about them, as they do little mischief to game,
unless a young bird that cannot fly, or small leveret, happen
to stumble in their way. I am loath to bring an accusation
against my great favourite the ivy-owl, but truth compels me
to say that he is nearly as injurious to game as the buzzard,
quite as much so as the kite. The other owls, viz. the white
and the long and short-eared, may be considered harmless.

Carrion-crows and ravens, or " corbies,'' take them for all
in all, are perhaps as mischievous as hawks. The best sea-
son for trapping them is in March and April ; the circle of
twigs to be set in conspicuous places ; the same bait as for
foxes, martins, &c., will do, but the best is a dead lamb, from
being so readily seen — and at that season it may be very
easily procured. The numbers taken in this way are aston-
ishing. When they become cunning, take down the twigs
and plant half-a-dozen traps round the lamb.

Magpies, jays, &c., all take a bait ; but the grand recipe
thoroughly to destroy them, is to find the nests and set the
young in circles.

There are many other ways of killing all these vermin
which I have not thought it worth while to mention, as they

WAY TO DESTROY VERMIN. 110

cannot stand a comparison with those I have named. Traps
must always be set close to paths or any other open places
near the haunts of the different vermin, with which it should
be the keeper's great endeavour to make himself thoroughly
acquainted. If placed according to these rules, there is not
much danger of either cattle or game getting into any, ex-
cept those set without circles for carrion-crows or foxes, which
of course require caution. We constantly see keepers loun-
ging about with their guns in pursuit of vermin : this ought
not to be. Guns only tempt them to idleness, and are an
excellent excuse for doing nothing. In my opinion no ver-
min should be shot by a gamekeeper. But if his master pre-
fer securing the old hens as they fly off the nest during
hatching time, instead of waiting for the young to come out,
no other plan can be adopted. My reasons to the contrary
have been given.

I have no doubt that the truly valuable keeper, who takes
an interest in the duties of his situation, will approve of all I
have said, and endeavour to profit by it : the careless, igno-
rant, and lazy, will as certainly cavil and condemn.

TRAPS.

Great care should be taken in the selection of traps : none
but an approved maker ought to be employed: that the
springs are well tempered and strong is of the utmost conse-
quence. The jaws must overlap, which is a great preventive
to the legs, especially of the winged vermin, being shred off.
To avoid this, some traps are made with weaker springs and

120 TRAPPING THE ONLY EFFECTUAL,

long teeth — these are not to be recommended, for, although
the teeth may counterbalance the weakness of the spring,
jet the vermin are apt to feel them when walking up to the
bait, and slink back without stepping on the plate. It is
also much more difficult to set them neatly. Traps whose
springs have been weakene.d by constant use may be reserved
for flying vermin.

VERMIN TERRIER.

I had almost forgotten to say that every gamekeeper, in all
his trapping and other excursions, should be accompanied by
an excellent vermin terrier. The use of this dog is to chal-
lenge vermin in earths, clefts of rocks, &c., thus making the
keeper aware where to plant a trap — to find out fowmartes
in old walls or heaps of stones, where they generally conceal
themselves — and to run those banes of the preserve, the semi-
wild cats into trees, where, with the assistance of his master,
they may easily be killed. A dog will soon become so expert
at this last accomplishment that few cats will be able to escape
him. These cats do much more mischief than real wild ones,
as they are impudent enough to carry their depredations into
the midst of the preserve, and close to the most frequented
places. The fowmarte, although an enemy to all game, is
generally more calumniated than he deserves — he is not
nearly so injurious as the martin or cat. I have frequently
found his retreat when no other signs of plunder were to be
seen except a few frogs half- eaten. When discovered, the
pole-cat has no activity, and if the wall or heap of stones

WAY TO DESTROY VERMIN. 121

where he has sheltered himself can be pulled down or re-
moved, he cannot escape.

Only one and the same terrier should be the keeper's
constant companion, as the dog will soon be " up to" the
traps, and from continual practice become first-rate at this
work. He must have a very goo.d nose, and be perfectly
callous to game of all descriptions, but especially rabbits and
hares.

122 INSTINCT OF DOGS.

INSTINCT OF DOGS.

IT is often amusing to hear those who know little about the
subject describing the " almost reason" of the St Bernard's
dog, and not unfrequently of the Scotch " colley."

It appears to me that the instinct of these animals is more
prominently forced upon their notice, and they do not take
the trouble to watch and discover it in the other species.
Sagacity is more equally distributed among the different
varieties of the dog than such casual observers are aware of ;
but it, of course, takes different directions,* according to the
temper, habits, and treatment of the animal. It would be a
waste of time so far to control the keen tempers of sporting
dogs, (by which I mean setters and pointers,) as to make
them perform the duties of a well-broke phlegmatic retriever.
The instinctive power may therefore appear greater in one
than the other ; but from the quiet easy temper of the re-
triever, it is much less difficult to develop and make use of
his instinct in that particular way: while the setter and
pointer, owing to their more active life and hunting pro-
pensities, may often pass unnoticed, even by their masters,
though, every time they are in the field, displaying as much
tact as the most cautious retriever. Their sagacity is never
thought of; and the only praise they get is, that they are
" excellent dogs," which means that they find plenty of
game.

INSTINCT OF DOGS. 123

There is another reason why sporting dogs appear more
deficient in sense than some others, and that is their mode
of life. Confined always in the kennel unless when seeking
game, all their powers are employed to this end. There
are, however, abundant proofs, that when made companions,
and suffered to occupy a place upon the hearth-rug, they are
capable of the same attachment, and would equal in sagacity
the much lauded dogs of St Bernard.* Indeed, the usual mode
of imprisoning sporting dogs is so great a disadvantage, that
I have seen some with excellent noses and every requisite
for the moors, grow sulky, and refuse to hunt with their
usual freeness, unless left in a great measure to themselves.
This, I know, arose partly from a want of proper manage-
ment, and not keeping the medium between encouraging
kindness and merited correction ; for too much lenity is nearly
as injurious to a dog as over severity : sulkiness will often be
the effect in the one case, shyness in the other. Still, if the
dog were allowed to be the companion of his master, he would
both acquire sense and tact in half the time, and would not give
half the trouble either by shyness or sulkiness ; whereas it
will generally be found, that a kennel dog is long past his
best before he excels in that sagacity on the moor which so
greatly assists him in finding game. Even the veriest village
cur, when kindly treated and permitted to bask at the " ingle-
nook," will learn all sorts of tricks, many of them requiring
as much reflection as the most intricate duties of the shep-
herd's dog. I had a little cocker reared in a cottage, that of

* May we not be allowed to suppose the dog in Helvellyn, whose attachment to
its dead master was thought a fit subject for their muse by two great poets of the
day, was of the sporting kind ? — at all events it was " not of mountain breed .'! "

124 INSTINCT OF DOGS.

its own accord, when only seven months old, brought in the
post-bag, thrown down by the mail in passing. The person
who had charge of it, having been detained a little, was
astonished to see the bag safely deposited in the house ; and?
upon watching next day, saw the little creature marching
along with its load. It had seen the bag carried in once or
twice, and immediately learned to do so.

I do not mean to deny that some varieties of the dog may
excel others in sagacity — but this will be found in most cases
to arise from other circumstances than the natural gift — and
that dogs whose avocations require a phlegmatic, quiet tem-
per, have certainly the advantage over others, though the
instinctive powers of both, in the first instance, may have been
equal. A terrier, for example, may and has been taught to
herd sheep, and if kept to this employment would appear more
sensible ; but his snappish disposition (an advantage in his
own more congenial occupations) renders him unlikely to excel
in those of the colley. The latter again is admirably adapted
for his own work ; his thick rough coat protects him from
the severity of the weather to which he is constantly exposed,
and his less ardent temper prompts him to look for guidance
from his master in all his movements. Both sheep-dogs and
terriers may be taught to point ; but they are always deficient
in hunt, and their olfactory powers are never so acute as in
those dogs which nature seems to have formed for the purpose.
We thus see that dogs are trained to different employments,
for many qualifications apart from their instinctive powers,
though these may be materially increased or retarded by the
nature of their occupations.

INSTINCT OF DOGS. 125

The Newfoundland and water-dog are generally reckoned
paragons of sagacity ; but has their treatment nothing to do
with this ? From their earliest days taught to fetch and
carry, and never leaving their master's side, they learn to
understand his least signal, and from constant practice some-
times even anticipate his will. This is also precisely the case
with the colley ; as soon as it is able, made to follow the shep-
herd to the hill, and from every-day habit always on the alert
to please him, it daily acquires greater dexterity both in com-
prehending and obeying, till at last it can perform feats that
perfectly astonish those who have not seen the gradual pro-
cess. My retriever, already mentioned, has given many proofs
of sagacity which have excited the admiration of those pre-
sent ; and yet I don't consider him at all more knowing than
the ol d pointer, whose cut I have likewise given. A super-
ficial observer would wonder at the comparison ; but, inde-
pendent of the tact and ingenuity displayed by the pointer in
finding game, I feel convinced that if his educational advan-
tages and temper had been the same as the retriever's, he
would have equalled him in his own beat.

To illustrate my meaning, I may mention a feat or two of
each. — Having wounded a rabbit on the moors when the
pointer was behind a knoll, but fancying, from the agility
with which it made its escape, that I had missed it altogether,
I was surprised to see him shortly afterwards bring a rabbit
and deliberately lay it down at my feet. It would have been
nothing if the dog had been taught to fetch and carry ; but
on the contrary he is, of course, broke to drop at the shot and
never to lay a tooth upon game. Had he seen me fire and

126 INSTINCT OF DOGS.

afterwards stumbled upon the rabbit, he would from his
breaking have thought he had no business to touch it ; but
not having seen the shot, he fancied he had a right to bring
what he had himself found upon the moor. Any person who
was no judge of dogs would have said, " Why, this is no
more than what any retriever puppy would have done." It
is not, however, the mere act alone, but the connecting cir-
cumstances which often show the superior instinct of the
canine species.

The performances of the retriever are more showy, and
the generality of observers would immediately on that account
pronounce him the more sagacious dog. — In taking a walk
with him last winter, I met a friend who had dropped a whip :
if this had happened to myself there would have been no
difficulty, as I had only to send the dog off upon my track ;
but upon trial he immediately ran back upon that of my
friend, recovered the whip, and brought it to me. Another
time, when he was following an open carriage, a shawl was
dropped: no one perceived the loss until the dog was seen car-
rying it in his mouth behind. Not long after a bouquet of
flowers was missed : I immediately looked round for the re-
triever, and, to be sure, there he was with the bouquet most
jauntily carried in his mouth. I only mention these as ex-
planatory of my theory ; viz. that we are apt to overvalue
one dog for sagacity, while we overlook its more unpretend-
ing neighbour, because, from shyness, surliness, eagerness of
temper, or want of practice, all its powers of instinct and
memory are employed in a different and less obvious way ;
for there is no doubt, if a dog is eager, shy, or sulky, it

INSTINCT OP DOGS. 127

may have superior instinct, and yet show less than another
of a more phlegmatic, sociable, or easy disposition. This
accounts for the difficulty of procuring a good retriever from
a cross between the water-dog and terrier, so valuable if the
medium between them is preserved ; because when the dog
partakes too much of the nature of the terrier, his quick
temper unfits him for the purpose, * and when too little he
is generally deficient in nose. A cross between the water-dog
and any others of the sporting kind would be still less likely
to suit ; and the Newfoundland is too large, and of the wrong
colour. Perhaps (the noses of colleys and terriers being pretty
much upon a par) a breed between a water-dog and colley
might answer well ; there is only the objection, that the pro-
geny might be too large and conspicuous.

With regard to the St Bernard dogs, what is it they do,
but what almost any dog of equal strength might be taught
also? It is certainly a noble occupation, but far, I should
think, from difficult, to teach a dog to run the track of a man
upon the bare mountain, and either to guide or carry the
benumbed wretch home. The colleys in the Highlands do
the same when sheep are in jeopardy, and know their own

* A dog of a very cool temper will retrieve wild-fowl better in loch-shooting,
than another with quicker movements and perhaps a finer nose. Many of the
cripples in this shooting take refuge in weeds and bushes, and the keen-tempered
dog is apt to overrun them, thus losing time ; whereas the other slowly tracks them
one by one to their hiding-place. It must be recollected that I do not speak of coast
and cover shooting, where more agility is required : on the coast, from the num-
bers to be secured after a heavy shot of the stancheon gun ; and in cover, that
wounded hares and rabbits, winged pheasants, &c., may be more speedily retrieved.
For my own part I should prefer the slow dog even in cover, but few sportsmen
like to wait.

128 INSTINCT OF DOGS.

flocks from any others. They will also climb hills and work
by the slightest signal from their masters at the foot. All
this may appear very wonderful to any one unacquainted
with the nature of dogs ; and still more so when he sees the
very colley which had excited his admiration, completely out-
done in some more domestic feats of usefulness by a wretched
turnspit.

If, therefore, my hypothesis be correct, — that there is not
so much real difference in the instinct of dogs, but that the
degree of sagacity they will exert for our benefit or amuse-
ment depends in a great measure upon their tempers and
dispositions ; and that the treatment they meet with has much
to do in forming these tempers and dispositions, — it follows
that too great care cannot be taken to train them properly,
and especially never to correct in anger or caprice.

THE END.

EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND HUGHES
PAUL'S WORK, CANONGATE

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YC 12097

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